'I have good momentum going into the week' - Maguire

Leona Maguire, Touring Professional at The K Club, is one of sixteen Irish golfers who will contest the KPMG Women’s Irish Open which takes place at Carton House, Firmont, Maynooth this week, from 3 to 6 July. Also in the field is Ladies European Tour (LET) player, Kildare’s Lauren Walsh, from Kill, formerly of Castlewarden Golf Club and Touring Professional at this week’s hosts, Carton House, Firmont.

Cavan girl, Maguire, was on Media duty for the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at the venue on Tuesday evening and after her performances on the circuit over the last few weeks, including finishing T19 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, she declared, “I feel I have some good momentum going into the week.” 

Explaining further  Maguire said:

 “I feel like my game's been shaping up quite nicely. I had a good run at KPMG at the Major and then obviously a slightly different format last week, a team event and stuff (at the Dow Championship). It’s nice to play in front of home fans this week and hopefully give them something to cheer about.” 

Over 37,000 attended the KPMG Women’s Irish Open in Carton House, Firmont last year and three-time Solheim Cup golfer, Maguire, is looking forward to the 2025 event. 

“It’s always one of my favourite events of the year and it’s nice to be back at Carton. I think they did a fantastic job last year and there were great crowds. We obviously got lucky with the weather, I don't know if we're going to get as lucky this year. I played nine holes this morning and the course is in really nice shape. The greens are rolling really nice.” 

The participation of sixteen Irish golfers, in a mixture of amateur and professional, in the 2025 event pleases Maguire. 

“I think it's huge. I think that's a big part of having this event. It’s important for them to get the experience of playing in a big event like this with the grandstands, the crowds and a big golf course. I played with Olivia Costello (Roscommon) and Lauren Walsh this morning, I played nine holes with them and you could tell Olivia was nervous but she's young and it's a big experience. It’s very nice to see so many of the girls doing well on the LET this year. It's obviously Lauren's home course here in Carton House,” she explained.

“Sixteen Irish is a lot to have in the field but I think that's a testament to the event and what KPMG have done to grow the event year on year and it's exactly the sort of the momentum and the trajectory that we want,” Leona added.

Appreciating that Irish fans turn out in numbers for the KPMG Women’s Irish Open Leonie Maguire said: 

“The Irish fans are very knowledgeable. They'll clap for a good shot. Yes, they're a little bit biased probably towards the Irish players but at the same time they'll appreciate good golf and they want to come see good golf. I suppose it's a busy summer of golf in Ireland this year with the Open in a few weeks and the Irish Open at the K Club in September. So, it's nice that we get to kick off a very busy and special summer of golf in Ireland.” 

While Maguire is from Cavan, she is not unknown in North Kildare because of her involvement with The K Club although she will have to vie with Lauren Walsh for Lilywhite support this week. Responding directly to a question on this from The Kildare Nationalist she said:

 “I think that's the nice thing about being Irish. I think no matter where you go there's always Irish people out to support. There was even a couple out today, Claire and Paul, they actually watch me normally when we go to Florida,” she told us.

“I'm very lucky to have a lot of support from Cavan too and I'm sure there'll be a few jerseys and whatever knocking about this week,” she added. 

“Like I said, we don't get to do it very often so it's nice to come back. I was over in The K Club yesterday to the clinic with some of the influencers and the kids as well. It was so nice to see them excited about golf and wanting to get a few tips and see how they can get better,” Leona Maguire concluded.