Olivia Mehaffey: 'It was good, it was nice, really enjoyable, which is the main thing for me at the minute'

"If there’s anything I’ve learnt in the last two years it’s ‘you’re the priority, you’re not just the athlete’. That was a nice learning for me.”

ENJOYING GOLF AGAIN: Olivia Mehaffey walks up the 4th fairway at Carton House. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

A smile returned to Olivia Mehaffey’s face at Carton House on Thursday as the Irish golfer returned to competitive golf after an 11-week absence with an under-par opening round at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

The 26-year-old from Banbridge was playing her first tournament since withdrawing following an 87 at the Italian Open in mid-June and shot a one-under 72, banishing the anxiety which had marked much of her early season.