CAVAN’S Leona Maguire (above) has reminisced over her first appearance in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open as she ramps up her preparations for the 2024 renewal.
The event has relocated to Carton House in Kildare with Maguire joining a host of LET and LPGA stars between August 29 and September 1 with over 31,000 set to attend over the four days.
The 29-year-old is fresh off her brilliant performance at the KPMG Women’s PGA in Sahalee Country Club and has the The Amundi Evian Championship, Olympics and AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews all on the horizon.
But she looks back fondly on the days when she was first introduced to the game at the top level, teeing it up alongside the likes of Laura Davies and Suzanne Peterson.
“I remember being pretty intimidated by Laura, to be fair, her hitting her two irons and three irons off tees and flying my drives by about 20 or 30 yards,” said Leona at a Carton House media day.
“Yeah it was a very cool experience obviously there was big crowds back then getting to see all the Solheim Cup stars getting to play a nine hole practice round with Suzanne in Killeen Castle then in 2010 or 2011.
“That’s still nine holes that I’ll never forget and even still being part of Solheim stuff reminding her of that and getting to play with Sophie.
“It was just one of those experiences as a junior golfer that sort of gave us a taste of what we wanted to do when we were a bit older.”
