Catriona Matthew (SCO) en route to victory in the 2012 Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle. © Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie

Leona Maguire has hailed the return of the Women’s Irish Open to the Ladies European Tour schedule as the perfect end to an incredible year for Irish women’s sport.

The world No 43 has been calling for the revival of the tournament for the past few years, and she was thrilled to learn it will be played for the first time since 2012 from September 22-25.

The venue and the prize fund have yet to be confirmed on the 2022 LET schedule, but it’s understood that five-star Dromoland Castle in Co Clare is expected to stage the tournament.

“This is great news to finish what’s been an incredible year for Irish females in sport,” Maguire told the Irish Independent shortly after the release of the 2022 Ladies European Tour schedule.

“I’m delighted to hear that the Women’s Irish Open is returning, and no doubt it will help create a platform to inspire more young girls to try golf.”

The event clashes with the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on the LPGA Tour, but while Solheim Cup star Maguire has not planned her schedule that far ahead, it would be a surprise if she did not tee it up.

First staged in 1994, when Laura Davies won the first of back-to-back titles at St Margaret’s, the tournament was played 15 times in the next 19 years.

The last two editions were played at Killeen Castle in Meath when with current Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen and winning 2019 and 2021 captain Catriona Matthew winning in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

“Today’s news is an early Christmas present for golf fans in Ireland,” said Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly.

“We have been working behind the scenes with the Ladies European Tour and Sport Ireland since early this year, hoping for today’s news to become reality.

“I would like to thank both organisations for the work done behind the scenes that has led us to today’s announcement and we look forward to further details early next year.”

The 2022 Ladies European Tour schedule boasts the greatest number of tournaments and the prize fund in the organisation’s 44-year history.

LET members will compete for a minimum of €24.5 million across 31 events in 2022 with the total annual purse up €13 million on 2019 and €4.5 million on 2021.

“On the back of a strong 2021 season, which featured 23 tournaments, 2022 is going to be a record-breaking year for the LET with the largest total purse and number of events in history,” said LET CEO Alexandra Armas.

“We will be launching new events in Asia and South Africa and returning to various territories across Europe and further afield, so it’s looking very exciting for our international membership.”

Europe will play host to 19 tournaments from May to September, with the Women’s Irish Open, the Madrid Ladies Open and the Mithra Belgian Open added to the schedule.

The $1.5 million ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management will be played at Galgorm Castle and Massereene from 11-14 August, the week after the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield.

2022 Ladies European Tour Schedule

February

10-13 Feb Magical Kenya Ladies Open, Vipingo Ridge, Kenya, €300,000

March

17-19 March, Aramco Team Series-Asia, TBC, Asia, USD $1,000,000

24-26 March, Joburg Ladies Open, TBC, South Africa, €250,000

30 March-2 April, Investec South African Women's Open, Steenberg Golf Club, South Africa, €290,000

April

21- 24 April, Australian Ladies Classic-Bonville, Bonville Golf Resort, Australia, €240,000

28 April-1 May, Women's NSW Open, Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, Australia, €210,000

May

5-8 May, Madrid Ladies Open, TBC, Spain, TBC

19-21 May, Jabra Ladies Open, Evian Resort Golf Club, France, €250,000

27-29 May, The Mira Belgian Ladies Open, Naxhelet Golf Club, Belgium, €200,000

June

9-12 June, Scandinavian Mixed Hosted By Henrik & Annika, Halmstad Golf Club, Sweden, €1,000,000

16-18 June, Aramco Team Series-London, Centurion Club, England, USD $1,000,000

24-26 June, Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, Beroun Golf Club, Czech Republic, €200,000

30 June-3 July, Confirmed Event, TBC, Europe, €300,000

July

14-17 July, Big Green Egg Open, Rosendaelsche Golf Club, Netherlands, €250,000

21- 24 July, The Amundi Evian Championship, Evian Resort Golf Club, France, USD $4,500.000

28-31 July, Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open, Dundonald Links, Scotland, USD $2,000,000

August

4-7 August, AIG Women's Open, Muirfield, Scotland, USD $6,800,000

11-14 August, ISPS HANDA World Invitational Presented By Modest! Golf, Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Clubs, Northern Ireland, USD $1,500,000

18-20 August, Aramco Team Series-Sotogrande, La Reserva Club de Sotogrande, Spain, USD $1,000,000

25-28 August, Skafto Open, Skaftö Golf Club, Sweden, €250,000

September

1- 3 September, Aland 100 Ladies Open, Ålands Golf Club, Finland, €250,000

8-10 September, VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, Golfpark Holzhäusern, Switzerland, €200,000

15-17 September, Lacoste Ladies Open de France, Golf Barriere, France, €325,000

22-25 September, Women's Irish Open, TBC, Ireland, TBC

29 September-2 October, Estrella Damm Ladies Open Presented By Catalunya, Club de Golf Terramar, Spain, TBC

October

13-15 October, Aramco Team Series-New York, TBC, USA, USD $1,000,000

20-23 October, Hero Women's Indian Open, DLF Golf & Country Club, India, USD $400,000

26-28 October, Dubai Moonlight Classic, Emirates Golf Club-Faldo Course, Dubai, USD $285,000

November

3-6 November, Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented By Public Investment Fund, Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Saudi Arabia, USD $1,000,000

9-11 November, Aramco Team Series-Jeddah, Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Saudi Arabia, USD $1,000,000

24-27 November, Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open De Espana, TBC, Spain, €650,000