By Matt Smith
As golf breaks more and more innovative ground these days, we will witness another twist to the game as the Ladies European Tour, DP World Tour and LPGA once again join forces for the second ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland.

In 2021, it was the first tri-sanctioned event in the northern hemisphere between the LPGA, LET and DPWT. There are 132 men and 132 women competing in two separate, 72-hole stroke-play tournaments happening on the same courses, at the same time.

Competitors will play one round on each of the first two days at Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Massereene Golf Club. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top-60 players and ties for both men and women, and a second cut will be made for both men and women after 54 holes to the top 35 and ties.

Defending champion Pajaree Anannarukarn returns to the site of her maiden LPGA Tour title, where she defeated Emma Talley with a par on the second playoff hole.

The women’s draw also includes Leona Maguire, the 2021 European Solheim Cup star who became the first player from Ireland to win on the LPGA Tour earlier this season. She’s joined by LPGA Hall of Fame member Laura Davies as well as major champion Georgia Hall.

Four-time LET winner Maja Stark, who leads in the Race to Costa del Sol, along with fellow countrywoman Linn Grant, the first woman to win a DP World Tour event at the co-sanctioned Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, will also tee it up this week.

On the DPWT side of things, Daniel Gavins will be looking for a happy return to the venue of his maiden title. The Englishman stormed through the field on the final day last year, carding a bogey-free 65 to come from seven strokes back to triumph.

“I was quite a distance behind, so I wasn’t under pressure in a way,” said Gavins. “I just went out and tried to make as many birdies as possible. I got a few early on and then a few nice putts were holed. I built up and built up and saw on the 17th I was nearly in the lead.

“I played the 18th like I had done all week, as a three-shotter, and thought, let’s see what happens. It was nice to get the first win.

“I’ve been playing nicely, and last week I felt like my game was really nice. I just need to stay patient, but it’s hard in this game. You just want to do well every week. I just want to enjoy it again.”

You may also like:
Youngster gets Aramco Team Series spot
WATCH: Highlights of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield
Relief for Buhai at AIG Women’s Open
R&A increases Women’s Open purse to 7.3 million
Get the August 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in English and Arabic
Joh Rahm welcome’s second son to family ahead of FedEx Cup Playoffs
’17 holes to go’: Rory and JT on LIV Golf/PGA Tour legal saga
Matsuyama withdraws from first FedEx Cup event
The mystery behind Dustin Johnson’s missing FedEx Cup plaque
PGA looks to the future with projected earnings
Patrick Reed expects more LIV Golfers to compete on Asian Tour
Key stories to follow at FedEx Cup Playoffs
Carlos Ortiz withdraws from LIV Golf lawsuit
Cameron Smith tight-lipped over LIV Golf reports
PGA Tour wins court battle over LIV Golf to prevent banned players from competing in FedEx Cup
Reed was ‘on the fence’ but loving team life on LIV Golf
LIV Golfers take in the sights ahead of International Series Singapore
PGA Tour says LIV Golf players ‘fabricating an emergency’
LIV Golf numbers grow on Asian Tour
Zalatoris to play 40th anniversary Nedbank Challenge
Gary Player at odds with son once again
15 fascinating PGA Tour FedEx Cup stats
LOOK: Big names who just lost their PGA Tour card
WATCH: An emotional Nick Faldo says goodbye
Rickie Fowler is lucky Mr 125 on PGA Tour FedExCup playoffs list
Legend John Daly ‘begged’ for LIV Golf spot
Mickelson was suspended by PGA Tour in March; banned for two years
Mickelson and Dechambeau lead group of 11 LIV golfers suing PGA Tour
Adam Hadwin in trouble with wife Jessica — again