Hall hoping ‘bagman’ Dunne proves lucky charm at Carton House
Georgia Hall of England during her press conference. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET
Major champion Georgia Hall believes caddie Paul Dunne can he her secret weapon in this week’s KMPG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House.
The pair are now in a relationship and while 2017 British Masters champion Dunne (32) has no status on a major tour right now after losing his card in 2022, Hall believes his local knowledge can be a massive help.
“He started with me near the start of the year, and he's done pretty much nearly every event with me,” said 2018 Women’s Open winner Hall (29), who is drawn with Sara Byrne and Charley Hull.
“He's done it all, in my opinion, and I think he's a great player. He's definitely the best chipper I've ever seen in my life.
Paul Dunne
Dunne famously held a share of the lead as an amateur heading into the final round of The Open at St Andrews ten years ago, and Hall sees his presence as nothing but positive.
“I don't think anyone can beat him chipping, so whenever I have a chip I don't like, I would ask his opinion on what he would do,” she said.
“I wish he could play it for me, but it's nice to have someone that's been under pressure in certain situations. And obviously he's from here. He's played this course over 100 times, so I think I've got a great addition to the team.”
Formerly ranked 67th in the world, Dunne played just twice on the HotelPlanner Tour last year and failed to win a card at the DP World Tour Q-School or the Asian Tour School.
He won the eGolf mini tour Order of Merit in the UAE this year but has not competed in a tour event since last year’s Czech Challenge.
While Dunne has not decided to become a caddie, Hall hopes to count on his help for a while longer.
“I think so, as long as we don’t argue,” she joked. “I've come here quite a lot over the past four or five months because of him. I was here last week, and obviously, I’m staying in a home environment with him in Greystones.”
The 16-strong Irish contingent. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET
Hall is one of the bigger names in the field alongside Hull, European Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist, Swede Madelene Sagstrom, whose caddie lives in Carlow, and Leona Maguire.
Maguire showed signs of form by finishing joint 19th in last month’s KPMG Women’s PGA before contending in the Dow Championship alongside teammate Jennifer Kupcho last week.
“I feel like my game's been shaping up quite nicely,” said Maguire, who plays alongside Nordqvist and Lahinch amateur Aine Donegan, who helped Great Britain and Ireland win the Vagliano Trophy last weekend.”
Arriving with “momentum” after a recent change of driver and putter, she said: "It’s nice to play in front of home fans and hopefully we can give them something to cheer.”
