Following a fortnight off, Leona Maguire started her pursuit of a third individual victory on the LPGA Tour brightly at the Cognizant Founders Cup in Clifton, New Jersey. She completed the opening round at six-under-par 66, securing a joint third position.
First-round leadership was claimed by Rose Zhang, a US golfer who balances her professional career with academic commitments. Meanwhile, world-leading golfer Nelly Korda began her quest for a sixth consecutive title with a score of 69.
Despite missing the cut at her most recent tournament, the Chevron, Maguire displayed a determined and deliberate performance, particularly in her putting game on the poa annua fairways of the Upper Montclair Country Club. Her round was marked by an early bogey on the second hole, but this was offset by seven birdies and a trio in a row from the fifth hole, ensuring she remains a strong contender.
Maguire was reflective and confident about her putting, “I offered myself numerous opportunities and sunk some good putts. This is likely my finest performance on poa annua greens, a refreshing change. I believe the key is to try and hit solidly…They’ve got good roll on them. You need to strategise carefully, mainly ensuring a uphill position, close to the right side of the flag. For most part, I managed to do that, which was a lovely bonus,” stated the 29-year-old professional associated with the K Club.
Currently ranked 23rd in the world, Maguire hopes to secure her first tour victory since clinching the Meijer Classic almost a year ago. So far this season, her best performance led to a second place finish to Korda, in the T-Mobile Matchplay.
Acknowledging the upcoming cold and rainy weather forecast and the impact it’ll have on the course, Maguire stated, “It’s going to be interesting, particularly with the wet and dense rough, hitting fairways and greens will be crucial. If you want some stress-free rounds in the coming days, that’s definitely the way forward.”
Zhang has secured a two-stroke lead over Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom after a bogey-free 63. He is closely followed by Maguire, Narin An, and Stephanie Kyriacou, who are a single shot further behind in joint third position.
Leona Maguire, a well-known figure on the international golf circuit, famously quipped that her experiences would make an engaging Netflix series.
Korda, the reigning world number one, has been unbeatable since her victory in the Drive On Championship in January, and carried this success forward to the first Major of the season, last month’s Chevron. In her pursuit for a sixth consecutive win, she carded four birdies along with a single bogey, which she regarded as an “acceptable performance”.
When questioned regarding her form and consistency, Korda emphasised the importance of maintaining patience and the belief in her abilities. “Good or bad, you need to have the certainty that you can rely on what you’ve diligently practiced, like your short game,” she proclaimed.
She further highlighted that there are three days remaining, filled with numerous variables that could potentially impact the tournament’s direction. She remarked, “The weather forecast doesn’t look too promising and there are other elements to consider for the remaining tournament. Hence it feels good to have a decent round under my belt. However, there’s still a significant distance to cover before Sunday’s conclusion.”