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Royal Porthcawl has hosted the Amateur Championship seven times, as well as the Curtis Cup in 1964 and the Walker Cup in 1995.

It has also been the stage for three Senior Opens, in 2014, 2017 and 2023, but the Women’s Open was on a different level in terms of the tournament’s status, its reach and the quality of the field.

This was Royal Porthcawl’s moment in the sun – and the wind, plus some rain, although not as much as there might have been – and the south Wales links shone.

Maureen Madill, the former Ladies European Tour player turned pundit from Northern Ireland, went as far as suggesting that Porthcawl had eclipsed Royal Portrush, the scene of the men’s Open Championship last month.

“I have been walking around this week and I have to say – and I will probably never get back into Ireland after I say this – I think the course is in better condition than Royal Portrush was for the Open two weeks ago,” she said during BBC radio coverage over the weekend.

“That’s me. I will not be allowed across the Irish Sea now.

“But I am in awe. I have been looking at these glorious greens, the structure of the bunkers, the sweeps, the hollows, the shadows… it’s absolutely glorious.”

The hope is that Olesen’s presence will bring more success as Harry plays just the second major of her fledgling career this week at the course she calls home.

Like Harry, Olesen is in his rookie year on tour having turned professional after coming through qualifying school.

He made quite a splash at the Open, shooting 67 on the first day to reach the top of the leaderboard.

Though he fell away in round two, Olesen made the cut and ended up 68th, which was a creditable return in what was just the second major of the 26-year-old’s career.

Now it is Harry preparing for her second major appearance having debuted at the Evian Championship earlier this month.

She missed the cut in France in what was her first time competing alongside the best players women’s golf has to offer.

But Harry is back home in positive mood after an encouraging display at last week’s Scottish Open, where she finished tied-38th in what was another high-class field.

“I am so excited,” Harry says.

“I just can’t really believe that I am going to be playing [in the Women’s Open at Porthcawl]. I can’t really put into words how much I am looking forward to it.”

It has been a scarcely believable dozen years since Hull burst on to the professional scene in 2013 with five sucessive runners-up finishes on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

She has gone on to record a combined six victories on the LPGA Tour and LET and become a key member of the past six European Solheim Cup teams, but three runner-up finishes remain the best Hull has achieved in the sport’s biggest championships.

“Second to me is first loser,” said England’s top ranked player.

“But I’m in a great position because if you’re not asking [about my chances], I’m not doing something right.”

Hull has been a little boom or bust in the majors over recent years. In her past 24 starts, she has missed the cut on eight occassions but finished top-25 in 15, including runner-up in this championship when it was held at Surrey course Walton Heath in 2023.

Unlike the men’s Open Championship, which is always held at a coastal links course, the women’s equivalent is also played at inland courses.

And while Hull said she “prefers parkland” tracks, she has positive experiences from Porthcawl to draw upon.

“I won here when I was 14, so I have fond memories,” she said, referring to playing in the inaugural Junior Vagliano trophy in 2011 – a Solheim Cup-style amateur contest which pits Great Britain and Ireland agaist Continental Europe.

“Links is going to be a challenge and I hope the wind is up because I like finding links hard.”

Three times she has finished in the spot behind the winner in her previous 59 major appearances. There have been six other top-10s.

“I don’t really look at stuff like that,” she said.

“I have no interest. As I am in life, once I’m done I’m off to the next thing.”

And when pushed on what she needs to do to take her game to the next level, Hull simply said: “I need to not put too much pressure on my golf, not be too golf obsessed.

“Like when I was younger, I was never that obsessed.”

Perhaps a windy Porthcawl will help invoke memories of those more innocent days at blustery Turnberry.