Leona Maguire said it’s still a bucket list ambition to become the first Irish golfer to win the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
She watched the incredible scenes at The K Club last year when Rory McIlroy won the men’s version, and suggested that the back-to-back Masters champion might be able to help her follow suit.
Maguire is competing in Edmonton in Canada in late August in the week leading up to the Irish Open, and faces a long-haul trek to get back home in her bid to make history.
‘If Rory wants to let me borrow his jet that week I would gladly accept!’ she said yesterday, speaking at an event to promote the tournament which takes places at the South Course from August 27-30.
‘Yeah, it’s going to be tricky for me to get back. I won’t have very much time. It’ll probably pretty much be to play the Pro-Am and go Thursday morning, so it’ll be a quick turnaround.’
An Irish female golfer has to yet to win the Irish Open or win a major but Maguire has broken the mould on tour and has inspired a wave of talent competing on both sides of the Atlantic.
And she admits the thought of emulating McIlroy’s achievement at The K Club would be special, following in the footsteps of Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington.
‘For any golfer, you ultimately would love to win your national Open. You saw Bob McIntyre winning the Scottish, Rory winning the Irish Open with those crowds around the 18th Green there at The K Club.
‘It seemed like there were people in every nook and cranny around the 18th at The K Club – they were hanging out of the clubhouse, out of the balcony, back of the green, side of the green, all up and down the fairways. So, it was obviously a fantastic atmosphere.
‘And, you know, Padraig’s had that, Shane’s had that, Rory’s had that. They’ve all got to experience that in very different venues and environments.
‘The Irish people have been fantastic to come out and support, you know, back from when we had the first one back in Dromoland a few years ago. So, hopefully the K Club people will come out in their droves again. I know having it closer to Dublin was very important to KPMG and a lot of people close to the event.’
After making the big decision to change coaches this year, parting company with long-time mentor Shane O’Grady and linking up with Seán Foley, who is based out of the US, Maguire has had a rollercoaster season so far.
Missed cuts have been balanced by two encouraging top-10 finishes and she said that ‘growing pains’ are part of trying to change her game up and gain any extra distance to help her compete.
She has been joined on the LPGA Tour by Lauren Walsh this year, Olivia Mehaffy qualified for the US Open, while Sara Byrne and Áine Donegan are part of the Irish contingent competing on the Ladies European Tour.
‘The girls have been doing really well on LET. I mean, it’s nice to see Sara back. Áine’s had some good finishes. It’s nice to see Olivia playing well again. Obviously, for her to qualify for the US Open was a big deal. It was nice to catch up with her at RIV there a couple of weeks ago, and she’s in good form and excited about her golf.
‘So, yeah, I think all very positive things for Irish golf right now. Obviously, Rory won the Masters again. It’s nice to see the lads playing well and some of the girls playing well too. So, yeah, a lot of chances, I suppose, at the Irish Open.’
With speculation that Ireland could be in line to host the Solheim Cup in 2030, and that Maguire’s home course of the Slieve Russell in Cavan is in the frame, she added: ‘It would be unbelievable to have an Irish Open or a Solheim Cup back on Irish soil.
‘I think a couple of years ago in Spain, there were so many Irish people there, it felt like we were almost in Ireland.
‘There were people in jerseys and flags and outfits and all the rest. It almost felt like a semihome one. I couldn’t even imagine what a home one would actually feel like.’
