Leona Maguire sets sights on majors after securing second LPGA win

Patrick McCarry

“You have to be really good to win out here. It’s tough.”

Leona Maguire delivered a cool, clear-eyed interview with CBS after shooting the lights out to win the LPGA Meijer Classic in Michigan.

The Cavan native backed up her debut LPGA win, last February, to go ridiculously low on the final day and burn off some world-class competition. Maguire said her aim heading into the final round was to card a 65 that would take her to -20 and give her a great chance. As it was, she shot a bogey-free 64 to finish on -21 and win by two strokes.

“I felt like I played some really good golf, last year,” she told CBS. “I missed out on a playoff here, was second at CME. You have to play really good golf to win out here. It’s tough. It’s a really nice feeling to win this won, especially coming into the majors we’ve got coming.”

Another big LPGA win for Leona Maguire 🏆🇮🇪

Lights. Out. 🙌pic.twitter.com/Y4QLgiqhW0

— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 18, 2023

The winning moment for Maguire 👏@MeijerLPGA |@leona_maguire

📺 CBS and @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/EBBsC3NZLP

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) June 18, 2023

Leona Maguire targeting majors next

The 28-year-old will receive a huge rankings boost, a winners’ cheque for $375,000, and a place in the Tournament of Champions, later this year, but her focus was already shifting to the next major.

The next two events on the calendar as the Women’s PGA Championship, at Baltusrol Golf Club, followed by the US Women’s Open in early July. Maguire has hit a rich vein of form at a great time.

“I feel like my game is in really good shape. I had my coach over last week, which was nice. We fine-tuned a few things. I think he’s in the air right now, on the way to Newark. I’ll catch up again with him next week.

“Yeah, just try more of the same – stay patient and keep trying to give myself as many chances as I can.”