Leona Maguire’s relentlessly globetrotting career sees many of her weeks blend into one, but this week is distinctive and anticipates a unique narrative. As she prepares to tee off at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House resort in Maynooth, the event is as invigorating as ever. Speculations are that without her pioneering strides, the tournament may not have earned its place back on the Ladies European Tour (LET) schedule.
Maguire, dubbed the face of the tournament, is instrumental in transforming the event, which was reinstated to the LET roster in 2022 after a ten-year hiatus, and moved from Dromoland Castle to Carton House. Under her influence, it has swiftly become one of the most respected tournaments on the tour.
Known for her notable performances in the Solheim Cup, she was part of the triumphant team in 2021 and 2023, and is girded up for her third participation in Virginia in a little over two weeks. Additionally, her LPGA Tour victories and her win at the inaugural Aramco-London on the LET have bolstered her impressive sporting record.
While she could have participated in a nearly €4 million LPGA Tour event in Boston this week, she chose to headline the Irish Open, where the prize money is merely a tenth of that in the US.
In Maguire’s view, her hometown tournament’s reintegration into the LET schedule has been long overdue. She expressed satisfaction at its annual growth and expressed delight in hearing her fellow LET players talk about their great anticipation for the event and how they equate it with a major.
Maguire has a reputation for always seeking progression, and she views the Irish Open, a recent addition to the European circuit, as no different. While she appreciates the event’s swift establishment, she believes that further refinements are necessary, such as the prize money and the event’s scheduling.
She asserts, “continuous improvements are always required. The stark reality is that our winnings are only a fraction of what male players receive. The prize money for men’s Irish Open is around seven to nine million, while we play for a mere 400,000 this week. They are also playing for approximately four million in Boston this week on the LPGA tour, so we had to consciously choose to be here.”
She fervently commits to the pursuit of improvement year on year. The first-rate standards of golf courses, notably Dromoland and Carton this year, combined with KPMG’s support, has added a substantial edge to this event. Although she appreciates the growth so far, she insists on the need to continue developing, including scheduling the event for convenient dates that will attract a world-class field that matches the prestige the event has acquired.
For the time being, however, the focus falls on this week’s event, where Maguire, together with her Solheim Cup teammate Georgia Hall from England, lends glamour to a record-breaking lineup of 13 Irish players, including five professionals. This acts as further proof of how Maguire’s illustrious professional global career inspires others to tread the same path.
Maguire’s immediate goal rests with her national open, a season that has experienced various highs and lows. With numerous events yet to convene for Maguire on the LPGA Tour, running until December, her momentum shows no sign of wavering.
There’s a fair amount of the golfing season left, with ample opportunities to seize. It’s crucial to concentrate solely on the task for the ongoing week, striving for optimal performance. In a fortnight, we’ve got the Solheim Cup besides several more LPGA events lined up. Thus, my aim is to continuously put myself in a favourable position throughout the remaining part of the year.
I’ve been making adjustments and fine-tuning certain aspects. Success has been mixed, which is an expected part of the golfing journey. I secured the second position in Vegas at the T-Mobile Matchplay, which I believe was an indication of my extraordinary game, albeit I ran into Nelly Korda at an inconvenient moment. A notable accomplishment was my victory in London.
Last week at St Andrews, my performance was commendable, though it lacked the finishing touch on the final day. Nevertheless, I take comfort in knowing my game is in an admirable state. The challenge lies in coordinating and synchronising all the aspects. All the elements are in place, they just need to come together perfectly. Perhaps, this is the week for that to happen.