Finnish star Riihijarvi joins Mehaffey in the Sigmoid Sports stable

Kiira Riihijarvi

Finland’s Kiira Riihijarvi has joined Olivia Mehaffey in the Sigmoid Sports stable ahead of her professional debut in the Ladies European Tour’s Gant Ladies Open in Finland next week.

After taking up the game aged nine, she went on to represent her national team on numerous occasions and made history in 2019, when she became the first Finnish player to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

On her journey from Finland to Augusta, she won multiple Finnish Championships and claimed 13 college victories at the University of Tampa, leading to her honourable selection as the NCAA D2 Player of the Year on two separate occasions.

Kiira earned All-American status in all five years of her college career and is now ready to take on the world of professional golf.

“I’m so excited to take this next step of my career and start playing professional golf.,” she said. “I have been working towards this for a long time and I’m eager to start pursuing my dreams.”

Kiira Riihijarvi

Team Finland’s National Coach, Jussi Pitkänen said: “Turning professional is a natural move for Kiira, following a stellar college and amateur career. She has been a wonderful player to work with and help develop.

“She works very hard and is extremely single-minded on becoming the very best player she can. I wish her all the best and look forward to the next step in her career. ”

She has signed with Dublin-based management company, Sigmoid Sports, which was co-founded by performance coach, David Kearney alongside Rob Browne.

Sigmoid Sports offers a slightly different approach to sports management, where a particular emphasis is placed on the performance of their clients as well as providing the usual management company services such as athlete representation and commercial management.

Speaking about her exciting news, Kiira said: “I’m very happy to start working with David and Rob, they are both extremely professional and they have helped me tremendously. I believe they will help me take my golf to the next level, so I’m really excited to work with them.”

Riihijarvi will begin her professional journey with the support of Finnish companies Silmäasema, Kuntokeskus Liikku and Fysioline, and she will continue to seek further sponsorship opportunities as she looks to make her mark in the U.S.

Kiira currently holds playing rights on the LPGA’s Symetra Tour and intends to play both in the U.S. and in Europe.