By Hamish Stuart

Welsh golfer Darcey Harry starts her professional career on the Ladies European Tour this week – with the AIG Women’s Open in Wales as her number one target for the season.

The event will be at her home club, Royal Porthcawl, at the end of July, and will be the biggest female sporting event ever held in Wales with the world’s top stars descending on the South Wales coast for the first men’s or women’s Major held in Wales.

Wales international Harry, aged 21, finished second in the Ladies European Tour qualifying to secure a good ranking for this season, with her first tournament coming up in Morocco this week.

“It has all come very quickly, but I am very excited to be heading to Morocco,” she said.

“Final qualifying was nerve-wracking, but the preparation I had done was very good and I was ready to go.

“I missed a 9-foot putt on the last to tie for the lead so you always look back and think you could have done better, but the most important thing was to get through and it was nice to get my first pay cheque.

“Finishing second means I get into most events on the Ladies European Tour. I had national coach Paul Williams on the bag in final qualifying and that really, really, really helped me, I learned a lot about myself and my game.

“It is great to be coming from a small nation and to be part of the European tour. Last year, I was the only Welsh player at some amateur events, so it will be nice to go on tour with your own team – I think pro golf will suit me.”

Harry enters the professional ranks with the best wishes of everyone at Wales Golf.

“Darcey has represented Wales with distinction in the amateur ranks, with her runner up place in the English Amateur one of the highlights of last season,” said Gareth Jenkins, Wales Golf Director of Performance and Pathways.

“She has been a consistent performer in the Wales teams for many years and everyone would be delighted to see her come through to qualify for the AIG Women’s Open.

“Having that event in Wales will be a huge boost for women and girls golf and it would be great to have some Welsh players in the field for everyone to get behind.”

Harry has just graduated with a degree in Equine Science from the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, after a successful amateur golf career with Wales.

“My first event for Wales was the Under 14’s match against Ireland and that only feels like yesterday, really,” she said.

“A huge thanks to Wales Golf because I definitely would not be here without them and the opportunities I have had with Wales.

“Playing for Wales has been a big part of my life – it has not hit me yet that I won’t be going to the Home Internationals or the Europeans this year as part of the Wales squad.

“You always look forward to the team events, they are a massive part of your season.

“I have been working with all the national coaches, Gareth (James), Neil (Matthews) and Paul since I was 12, so it is nice for them to see how far I have come.”

17/12/2024. Ladies European Tour. Lalla Aicha Qualifying School, Final Stage, Marrakech, Morocco. 16-20 December. Darcey Harry of Wales during the second round at Al Maaden Golf. Credit: Tristan Jones / LET

To qualify for the AIG Women’s Open, Harry will need to win on the LET, be highly placed on the Order of Merit or get through Open Qualifying.

“The AIG Women’s Open is the dream, it is on my home course so I do not think I would be able to watch if I am not playing in it because I would be so, so disappointed. That is my main goal for the year,” said Harry.

“If it does not happen then it is not meant to be, but it would be great for Wales to have home players in the event.

“It will be great for Porthcawl and the area as well, and playing there would be another benefit if I could get a win on tour before then.

“I think I have to go out and enjoy it, not get stressed, keep the same mindset that I had at Tour School, enjoy going to different countries and appreciate what the LET can do for you.”

A strong performance in Morocco would be a good start in that campaign, for the latest Welsh golfer to try make her mark in the professional ranks.