Rónán MacNamara in Riyadh
On the tee, representing Europe… Another Irish legend.
When it comes to wearing the blue and gold of the continent, few countries have produced more legends than Ireland, particularly in the Ryder Cup.
Christy O’Connor Jr, Philip Walton, Paul McGinley, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have all enjoyed stellar Ryder Cup careers and their own iconic moments for Europe.
Another player who is already steeped in the folklore of team golf for Europe is the silent Solheim assassin, Leona Maguire.
Two Solheim Cup appearances, two wins, ten matches played, seven won and just two lost, unbeaten in fourballs and singles. Maguire isn’t long on the scene but she is already a Solheim Cup legend.
Maguire has been involved in some famous moments for Europe – winning for just the second time on US soil in 2021 before helping the continent to a historic three-in-a-row at Finca Cortesin last year.
The Cavan star burst onto the scene – unlike Micah Richards she’s here for the long haul – in Ohio three years ago with a record-breaking performance as a rookie, picking cup 4.5/5 points in a sensational unbeaten showing.
Amazingly, the 29-year-old is only embarking on her fifth season on the LPGA Tour but she is already a legend when it comes to the Solheim Cup.
“I really enjoy it. It’s an environment in which I seem to thrive,” Maguire told IrishGolfer.ie at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented by PIF.
“I’ve always loved matchplay I love team golf and I am fortunate to have had some great partners the last couple of years. You need a lot to go right for you and click that week but my putter seems to heat up a little bit come Solheim Cup and that’s what you need if you want to win matches.”
The two-time LPGA Tour winner will be one of the leaders when Suzann Pettersen takes her charges to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
The usually biennial contest takes place just twelve months after Europe retained the cup in Spain in order to move back to even years. Pettersen has been retained as captain and Maguire feels playing back-to-back years can help Europe maintain the momentum that has seen them win five of the last seven editions.
“I don’t envy Suzann! Or the assistant captains picking,” she smiled. “It will be interesting, it will be very competitive, there will be a lot of players jockeying for those twelve spots.
“Obviously, you want as many European players playing well to pick from as possible. If we have plenty of players in form that’s a good headache for Suzann to have.
“Ultimately all I can do is keep playing as well as I can and make sure I do enough to be one of those twelve heading to America in September.”
Maguire has played under both Catriona Matthew and Pettersen, both of whom have been retained and given two contest terms. Europe have followed the model and have retained Luke Donald for the 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage.
“I think like anything I’m sure Beanie learned a lot from her first captaincy and Suzann will have learned a lot from Finca. Two great captains and anytime you win a Solheim Cup it’s no mean feat so it’s nice to have a good experience and good memories to bank and then build on,” added Maguire.
Maguire, alongside her sister Lisa competed in the 2011 Junior Solheim Cup in Knightsbrook as a curtain raiser for the Solheim Cup in Killeen Castle.
Europe won a thrilling contest in Killeen that year, lifting the cup for the first time since 2003 and since then have seen the pendulum shift in their favour.
Maguire believes the reason for Europe’s recent success and dominance of the contest over the last thirteen years is due to the growth of women’s golf and more Europeans playing at the highest level on the LPGA Tour.
“It’s very fine margins, you see even from the first day last year us going 0-4 down. It doesn’t take much to swing one way or another,” explained the Florida resident who is wary of a rampant USA response this September.
“I don’t think Europe is massively stronger than the US. On paper the teams are incredibly evenly matched and I think that is a testament to women’s golf.
“Right now I think 10-15 years ago it was a lot more lopsided one way or the other, European players are playing in America, they are playing on good golf courses in the same competition, they’re not intimidated when it comes to big events like that.
“I would imagine the Americans will want to prove a point after the last time, especially on home soil and I think it will be a huge task ahead of us.”
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