Leona Maguire taking positives from major disappointment

Leona Maguire remains confident she can right the wrongs of her recent major heartbreak at the AIG Women’s Open in August.

The 28-year-old, who had the 54-hole lead at the KPMG PGA Championship, ended up finishing T11 at Baltusrol but says she is under no pressure to claim a historic title.

“Every time you’re in those situations, you learn something and gain more experience to hopefully put you in better stead for the next time,” she told bunkered.

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“You try not to put too much expectation on yourself, but ultimately, you’re just trying to do as well as you possibly can whether it’s an Aramco event or the British Open.

“I won’t put too much pressure on myself, and I’ll try to be in contention on Sunday.”

After breaking into the top ten in the Rolex World Rankings last week, Maguire is now the highest-ranked Irishwoman ever.

The Solheim Cup star would be the first female golfer from Ireland to land a major championship, should she get over the line in one of the five biggest events.

Maguire said: “It would be a huge honour and a privilege.

“They’re the things I try not to get caught up in too much from day to day. If it happens it happens, but if not, I’ll try to give myself the best chance I can.”

The County Cavan-born golfer claimed her second LPGA Tour title this summer and says she is in a good spot to carry that momentum forward through a busy summer.

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Leona Maguire will take on this year’s Open venue for the first time in July, after the Aramco Team Series event in London, but confidence in her game could prove pivotal.

“I’ve never played Walton Heath before, so it’ll obviously be a very different test, but I’m looking forward to it.

“It’ll be unusual not to play a British Open on a links golf course, but it’ll be a new test, and I feel like my game’s in really good shape.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.