Harry battles for patience before Women's Open

Darcey Harry's defence of her Hulencourt Women's Open came to a premature end earlier this month because of injury [Getty Images]

Darcey Harry says she has come to "hate" calls for patience during what has been a more challenging second season on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

After her successes as a rookie in 2025, Wales' number one golfer hopes this week's return to the Women's Open could spark an upturn in form.

Harry has a place in the field at Royal Lytham & St Annes courtesy of her performances last year, when she finished a lofty 14th in the LET order of merit despite the fact she had only just turned professional.

But 2026 has been more of a struggle for the 23-year-old from Dinas Powys, who has missed the cut in three of her past four tournaments and was forced to withdraw from the other because of injury after only a handful of holes.

"My results are definitely reflecting that it's harder second time around [on tour] because the expectations are just so high," Harry told BBC Sport Wales.

"But I feel my golf game has come on a lot and, like everyone keeps saying to me, you've got to be patient.

"That's one thing with golf, and I've heard that word so many times now that I hate it, but at the same time it's so true - you do have to be patient."

Harry feels her "game is there" and things will click into place soon.

She has pointed to struggles with the putter as an issue, which was not the case during her first year on the professional circuit.

After coming through qualifying school in December 2024, Harry eased her way into life on the LET and finished inside the top 15 in five of her first six events, memorably claiming a first victory at the Hulencourt Women's Open last June.

But 2026 has been less fruitful, with a seventh-place finish at the Women's Australian Open in March her best result by some distance.

"It's definitely not the year that it was last year - this year is more of a learning year for me," Harry said.

"[I am] definitely learning a lot more about myself, which has been… it's actually a bit of a surprise.

"I didn't really know coming into this year what the goals were and just wanted to go and win again. That's still kind of the goal.

"I am taking it competition by competition and just trying to get confident and trying to do what I did last year."

Nerves like never before

Darcey Harry had home fans on her side at Royal Porthcawl last year having been a member at the course since her mid-teens [Getty Images]

Harry's form last year earned her a place at two of women's golf's five major championships.

She missed the cut on major debut at the Evian Championship but then made it through to the weekend on her Women's Open bow.

Playing at her home course of Royal Porthcawl, Harry was roared on as she finished tied 40th, having threatened to end higher up the leaderboard before a round of 77 on a windy final day.

"That week was just so surreal," Harry said.

"It came and went so quickly and my golf was great. I'm so proud of myself for being able to turn up and do what I did.

"The nerves I experienced there were like no others, so sometimes when I get nervous now I think 'well, you've been able to do it before so you can do it again'.

"I definitely feel now I'm used to the bigger crowds and the more serious kind of atmosphere."

Harry visited Lytham earlier this year to get a feel for the course, where she will tee off in the first round at 06:52 BST on Thursday alongside Wei-ling Hsu of Chinese Taipei – who finished tied-sixth in Porthcawl last year - and India's Aditi Ashok.

The initial goal is "to stay out of the bunkers", of which there are no fewer than 174, while trying not to be hindered by the weight of expectation.

"I never want to lower those expectations but going out there and just being a little bit more relaxed and working on that side of the game [will help]," she added.

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Harry is 209th in the women's world rankings after missing the cut at the Scottish Open last week.

That is 80 places higher than Lydia Hall, the next Welsh player in the list, with Wrexham's Chloe Williams ranked 373rd.

While Hall was among those to miss out, Williams came through final qualifying on Monday to ensure there will be two Welsh players in the field for the final women's major of the year.

It will be a third Women's Open appearance for 31-year-old Williams, who is in the first group out on Thursday – at 06:30 BST – alongside England's Alice Hewson and Amanda Doherty of the USA.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →