Maguire’s Calm Confidence Lights the Way Home
Backed by good form and a growing Irish wave, Leona Maguire readies for another special week at Carton House
Las Vegas - Veteran Irish star Leona Maguire returns to the KPMG Women’s Irish Open this week with confidence in her form and comfort in growing company, as 16 Irish players tee it up at Carton House.
The O'Meara Course, just outside Dublin, has become a familiar setting for Maguire’s homecoming. This time, she arrives with back-to-back top-20 finishes on the LPGA Tour and a quiet belief that something special might be building. “It’s always one of my favourite events,” she said. “The course is in great shape, and it’s just brilliant to be back.”
Her recent results—T19 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and T18 at the Dow Championship—suggest a rhythm returning to her game. “Last week’s team format was a bit different,” she admitted. “But I’ve got some good momentum now, and there’s nothing like the support of a home crowd to keep it going.”
Maguire’s LET breakthrough came last year with a historic victory at the Aramco Team Series – London. Now, her attention shifts to nurturing the next generation. “That’s a big part of this event,” she said. “You see amateurs like Olivia Costello out here—it’s big, it’s new, it’s learning. The more they play, the more they grow.”
Since its 2022 return to the LET, the Irish Open has swelled in significance, not just in stature but in participation. From a handful of Irish names to a full sixteen this week, Maguire sees the growth as a reflection of its foundation. “It’s the momentum we wanted,” she added. “And KPMG have helped build that every year.”
With three straight top-15s at the event and over 37,000 spectators last year, Maguire has been both figurehead and fan favourite. This year, she shares that spotlight—and that suits her just fine. “It’s busy, yes,” she smiled. “But it’s also good to have more of us carrying the hopes. This event isn’t just mine—it’s Ireland’s.”