Costello excited for upcoming American adventure

Olivia Costello has expressed her excitement at attending college in America in 2027 as she chases her dream of playing professional golf.

Speaking to the Irish Golfer Magazine at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open Media Day at the K Club, Costello stated that a round of golf with Áine Donegan, who attended Louisiana State University (LSU), convinced her that attending the same university would be the correct move in her burgeoning golf career.

“She is the reason that I went there. I was playing against her in Connemara in the Irish Women’s Close and we had four hours around the golf course. College golf is always something my coach has always talked about and the journey that I am on to professional golf. It is all steps on the ladder. There were times where I was saying I just want to go pro and not do the four years.” 

“I went and visited and it was about 35 degrees in the middle of October and then it is like five degrees in Ireland. It is a great four years to get myself ready for the professional game. That is the way I am looking at it.” 

The Mercy College student firmly believes that women’s golf is growing rapidly. She feels the KPMG Women’s Irish Open’s recent return to the calendar, after the tournament was not held from 2013 to 2021, is a further sign that the game is growing within Ireland.

“I can even put myself back into 10 year old me’s shoes and the fact that there is the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. I would have loved to have come up and watch it. I think what KPMG have done for women’s golf is incredible. The fact that there is one (KPMG Women’s Irish Open), shows how big the game has grown and how many more girls are getting into golf. It is great to see.” 

“I was only talking with my dad and it is nearly like a work experience. You are getting to experience what life would be like if I was a pro. It is great to have the girls doing well. Lauren (Walsh) and Leona (Maguire) on the LPGA. You learn so much from them and being able to talk to them. There was the 20x20 campaign and ‘if you can see it you can be it’ and they are paving the way for more girls to get into it and more girls to take the path that they have taken.” 

The KPMG Women’s Irish Open will be held from August 27-30 at the K Club.