As the KPMG Women’s Irish Open returns to Carton House, there’s a growing buzz — not just around the tournament itself, but around the strong Irish presence in the field.
Among the record 16 Irish players teeing it up this week is Anna Foster, who’s embracing a rare opportunity to compete at home with friends, family, and memories all around her.
We caught up with Foster as part of her ambassador role with PINERGY, the clean energy supplier that has been supporting her journey from elite amateur to professional golfer.
Speaking just days out from stepping up to the tee in front of a strong home support, she was relaxed and excited about what promises to be a special week.
“In general, the way everything’s been bigged up over the last few weeks, I think we’re all really looking forward to it,” she says.
“How it’s been run the past few years has been really, really good. So it should be a great, fun week with lots of home support and good crowds. Hopefully we get some decent weather too!”
For Foster, the homecoming has sparked reflection on her journey from junior golf to the professional ranks — and how far she and her peers have come in a short time.
“When the tournament first came back at Dromoland Castle, I think I was about 18,” she recalls. “I definitely wouldn’t have thought back then that we’d all be playing it now. There was a photo going around this week from a 2016 trip to Wales — it was me, Lauren Walsh, Sara Byrne , Áine Donegal, Beth Coulter, and Anna Dawson. Nine years on, we’re all playing the Irish Open. It’s kind of funny, but also really cool.”
That sense of shared experience is something Foster treasures, especially when it extends off the course.
“I think if you’re playing an event and there are other Irish girls there, it’s always a bonus,” she says. “You might be able to share accommodation, catch up, spend some time together — just be yourself around people you’ve known for years. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable.”
One group that’s always had her back is her home club, Elm Park.
“Last year there was a huge crowd down supporting me and Emma Fleming, and I’d expect the same this year. Elm Park have been so supportive through my whole career, and especially since I turned pro. They’ve been amazing.”
Having made the leap into professional golf, Foster says the biggest shift hasn’t been in her game — it’s in everything else.
“Golf-wise, the level is pretty similar — maybe just a bit sharper on tour — but college golf really prepares you for that. The big difference is the stuff off the course: travel, admin, finding caddies. All the stuff you don’t think about as an amateur.”
Foster takes pride in handling most of that herself. “I like booking things and knowing what I’m doing. Some weeks, you share the load with others, which helps, but this week I’m staying in my own bed and driving my own car. That’s two less things to worry about!”
Asked about her expectations for the week, Foster takes a relaxed view.
“I wouldn’t be one for big goals or targets. I just want to go out, enjoy playing at home, enjoy seeing people, and let the golf look after itself. Getting to wave to your family and friends during a round — those are the little things that make it special.”
Foster had a chance to get a feel for the course a couple of weeks ago. “Carton was looking great. It was firm when I played it, and the grandstands were mostly set up already. It definitely felt close.”
The move to an earlier summer date is expected to bring even more young fans to the fairways.
“Giving a kid a ball or signing a hat — it’s such a small thing for us but can mean a lot to them. If it helps get more girls into golf, that’s brilliant.”
PINERGY CEO Enda Gunnell believes that Foster is a powerful role model at exactly the right moment for Irish sport.
“Anna embodies the kind of drive, humility and inspiration that PINERGY is proud to support. Her journey — from junior international to professional golfer, and now competing at the top level on home soil — shows what’s possible with the right mindset and support.”
“We’re delighted to be part of her story and to help shine a light on the incredible talent coming through in Irish women’s golf.”
Sport for Business The Business of Golf 2025
A series of conversations about the Business of Golf ahead of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House, the Open Championship at Royal Portrush, the Amgen Irish Open at the K Club and so much more.
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