Welsh player Darcey Harry isn’t just the home favorite at the AIG Women’s British Open. She’s a member at Royal Porthcawl, though she’s never seen the venerable club quite like this.
“It doesn’t really feel like it’s at home because there’s so many people here and usually Porthcawl is very quiet,” said Harrry.
And that comment to the press came before Harry teed it up in competition.
The 22-year-old LET rookie stormed to victory at the Hulencourt Women’s Open in Belgium last month to play her way into what’s being billed as the largest women’s sporting event ever held in Wales.
“I was really nervous. I’m not too sure really how I coped with it,” said Harry, who opened with a 2-under 70 to trail by three. “I just tried not to look elsewhere and just keep concentrated on the golf ball and my caddie.”
Harry’s caddie is her boyfriend, Jacob Skov Olesen, a DP World Tour rookie who co-led the men’s British Open earlier this month at Royal Portrush. The Dane was also on the bag for her win in Belgium.
“I need someone on the bag that’s going to make me laugh and take my mind off more of the distractions,” said Harry, who became a member at Porthcawl six years ago. This is the first competition she’s ever played at the historic club.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a card in hand playing here,” she said ahead of the championship. “Usually when I come out, I just play nine holes. I never really come out and play 18. If I do, it’s probably with my dad, just walking around, having a bit of a piss about.”
Olesen said he met Harry for the time around five months ago, and it remains the only round of golf they’ve played together. They’ve been dating now for two months and mainly see each other at events. Harry, for example, was in Northern Ireland for Olesen’s hot start.
Olesen noted that Harry’s iron play is typically her strength, though right now everything about her game feels quite rounded.
As for friendly competitions between the two, Olesen said, “We tied the only match we played, so no one has the upper hand. I guess she does, a little bit, having a win.”
Harry made her major championship debut earlier this month at the Amundi Evian and was excited for the opportunity to play alongside 2018 British Open winner Georgia Hall in the first two rounds in Wales.
“I was only a junior at the time when Georgia won a few years ago,” said Harry. “It was so inspirational seeing her do it. The whole country was so excited when a British player won.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Women’s British Open: Member of Porthcawl shines with boyfriend caddie