Stars align for golfing missionary O’Donovan

From the Senior Cup to a World Celebrity Pro-Am, it has been quite the journey for Irish PGA professional Brian O’Donovan.

Four years after tasting All-Ireland golfing glory with Bandon Golf Club at the GUI’s Cups and Shields finals in Castlebar, the 27-year-old is on the other side of the world helping the biggest golf club in the world prepare for an influx of Hollywood, golfing and athletic glitterati next month for the Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am in China.

O’Donovan is working as a golf instructor and management trainee at the Mission Hills resort in China, with its Haikon resort on the tropical island of Hainan staging a three-day Ryder Cup style pro-am competition that will feature Ireland’s Ryder Cup-winning captain Paul McGinley, his team members Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, as well as major winners Gary Player and John Daly.