Northern Irish golfer Olivia Mehaffey has set her sights on turning professional after an injury setback. The 21-year-old broke a bone in her hand while hiking in June.

The qualifying school takes place from August to September and has three stages in California, Florida and North Carolina.

She said: "I think it's the right time to go pro now. From what I hear it [the qualifying school] is quite stressful.

"You are on the road for a long time. My whole next year is going to be based on preparing for that. I'm really happy with how my game is progressing and I'm working on a lot of refined skills.

"I wanted to go pro this autumn but I broke my hand at the start of the summer and I wasn't ready but actually I feel more prepared now. I feel in a better space mentally to go out and really attack that."

The golfer sustained her injury just hours before she was named in the Great Britain and Ireland team to play against Europe in the Vagliano Trophy.

Mehaffey said: "I just slipped. It was a really, really small fall and I did not think it was broken at all, but it turned out it was. I had surgery a couple of days later.

"I was supposed to play the British Amateur at my home course [Royal County Down] the next week and was exempt into the Women's British Open through my ranking. 

"I had a really exciting summer lined up and had been planning Qualifying School for years. It really hit me hard. But I've learnt a lot from this time. It's been tough, but I think I'm stronger now and ready to go out and get it."

Mehaffey is hoping to play in the Curtis Cup in June.