Leona Maguire, the pioneering Irish golfer, has added another impressive accomplishment to her growing list of successes. She has become the first Irish sportswoman to claim victory on the Ladies European Tour, celebrating a triumph at the PIF Aramco Series tournament held at the Centurion Club near London.
At 29, the athlete from Cavan has already proven her mettle, taking home titles in the LPGA Tour and Solheim Cup with her superb golfing precision and resilience. This latest achievement, however, presented a unique set of challenges.
Maguire had to dig deep, demonstrating strategic prowess and unwavering focus with every shot, as the championship initially slipped away, only to be reclaimed. A memorable eagle on the final shot – a superb hybrid approach from approximately 190 yards to under 10ft – sealed her victory. Her final round 73 saw her finish with an eight-under-par total of 211, beating Spain’s Maria Hernandez by just one stroke.
Marking her win with a celebratory air-punch, a joyful embrace with caddie Dermot Byrne, as well as a champagne shower from her twin sister Lisa, she was certainly in high spirits. “That putt was for me, for my family, and for Ireland,” said an emotional Maguire about her eagle on the 18th hole.
Further exemplifying the impressive wave of emerging talent from Ireland was the astounding 65 final round from Kildare’s 23-year old Lauren Walsh, who amidst her debut season, moved to 12th on the LET order of merit. Walsh tied third with Solheim Cup sports stars Georgia Hall of England and Alison Lee of the United States.
Maguire’s campaign was far from smooth sailing. Ahead with two strokes entering the final round, her early surge with consecutive birdies on the first two holes subsided, faced with challenges such as a double-bogey seven on the Par 5 sixth, and three-putt bogeys on the fourth and eighth. Her lead diminished as she moved into the back nine, with potential threats from Hall and Lee. However, the counsel of experienced caddie Byrne, who had formerly worked with Shane Lowry, among others, proved invaluable.
“Keep calm, remain calm,” was the recurrent advice from Byrne. Notably, throughout the pursuit of her maiden LET title on the journey home, it was clear from Maguire’s bearing that she was resolute to fulfil her assignment. This mirrored her prior victories on the LPGA Tour and her accomplishments in the last two Solheim Cups.
Her first birdie since the second hole was scored on the 12th, succeeded by Maguire’s perfect drive followed by a three-quarter wedge ending two feet away. Even after a bogey resulting from her approach carrying over to the rear on the 16th, she ended with a flourish. The incredible approach to eight feet for an eagle on the 18th allowed her to claim victory and build momentum for the upcoming week’s Evian Championship, the penultimate Major on the LPGA Tour schedule.
Recollecting her triumph, Maguire, who earned almost $50,000 as the winner, stated, “I achieved it the hard way.” Her tone hinted at great contentment with the achievement’s nature.