The caddies of Georgia Hall and Darcey Harry were determined to stay out of the spotlight on the first day of the Women’s Open here, but inevitably they attracted attention, and not just because they are also in relationships with their golfing bosses.
Paul Dunne led the Open 10 years ago at St Andrews and Jacob Skov Olesen topped the same leaderboard two weeks ago at Portrush. So, as they walked out with the bags in the same threeball on Thursday lunchtime, it was fair to surmise that their links experience could be handy.
Advertisement
And so it proved, with Hall and Harry crediting their influence after a 71 and 70 respectively. “Yeah, it was great because Paul imagines shots better than me,” Hall said. “He helped me lots out there,” Harry said.
Of course, Hall is a formidable links performer regardless of who happens to be lugging around the clubs and dishing out the yardages. As a 22-year-old, she became the first Englishwoman to win the Women’s Open in 16 years when prevailing at Royal Lytham. She also has a second and a third to her name in her home major and makes no secret of the fact that this is “the first and only tournament I circle on the schedule at the start of every year”.
Hall has suffered a poor 2025 to date, the former world No 8 tumbling outside the top 100. Yet there is something about her challenge here that is intoxicating and four back from the pace set by Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda – with Miyu Yamashita making it a Japanese one-two-three – this was a rousing start.
Advertisement
Seven years ago, Hall triumphed with father Wayne as caddie. Will Dunne, to whom she became engaged two weeks ago, make it another family affair? “I get most of my advice from Paul on chipping and pitching,” she said. “I can’t beat him in a chipping comp even now. And he’s really calm out there. It’s nice to have that support off the golf course as well as on it.”
Hall lifted the Women’s Open trophy in 2018 with father Wayne acting as her caddie – Getty Images/Fred Tanneau
Hall missed six greens, so Dunne’s guidance proved extremely useful. “Especially on the 16th,” she said. “Where I was so far off the green I was on another tee. He definitely helped. I was left with a tap-in for my par.”
Dunne made a big impact from 2015 to 2017. At the Home of Golf, he stunned everyone by becoming the first amateur in 88 years to lead the Open after 54 holes and although he blew up on the final day to fall to 30th, the Dubliner had served notice of his talent.
Advertisement
And two years later, it was in full display when he shot a 61 on the Sunday at the British Masters to overhaul a certain Rory McIlroy for his first professional title.
Huge things were predicted, but sometimes injury gets in the way. A wrist injury precipitated the decline and he now does not have status on any Tour. It is questioned whether he will ever return to swinging the clubs instead of carrying them.
“He’s a very good player and I feel he doesn’t give himself enough credit,” Hall said. “Obviously I’m not complaining, I am very lucky to have him with me.”
Harry feels just as fortunate to have Olesen, the highly rated young Dane, by her side. She is a member here at this stunning South Wales links and admitted to being “very, very nervous”. “But Jacob kept me smiling and distracted, so it was perfect,” she added.
Darcey Harry walks the 18th hole alongside her boyfriend and caddie Jacob Skov Olesen – Getty Images/Oisin Keniry
Olesen will advise her that the good mood can quickly disappear at an Open. After his opening 67 earlier this month, Olesen, a DP World Tour rookie, made a quadruple-bogey eight on the first hole of the second round on his way to a tie for 68th.
Advertisement
“Dont worry, I am already aware that golf can do that,” Harry said. “I was there watching him at Portrush.”
Mimi Rhodes leads the way for Britain following a 69, with Lottie Woad – the 21-year-old who was installed as the favourite following her victory in her first pro event, the Women’s Scottish Open, last Sunday – firing a 72. World No 1 Nelly Korda is ominously placed after a 70.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
