Journeys

Leona Maguire blazes a path for Irish women

After a stellar amateur career, the former Duke All-American took the more scenic route to the LPGA Tour

With Keely Levins

Ihad these plans that I would go straight from college to the LPGA Tour, and it would all go so smoothly. It didn’t. I spent 135 weeks as the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, but when I turned pro, I didn’t make it through Q school.

From the beginning, I had a built-in Some of our toughest battles were

practice partner. My twin sister, Lisa, at Duke qualifying—our lineup was and I grew up minutes from our local that strong. No matter how many course. We started with three clubs times I won, coach Dan Brooks made each when we were 9 and added clubs, me qualify. He always challenged us. shoes and a coach as we got older. My ● ● ● dad read golf books and I made it through second taught us as much as he leona maguire stage of LPGA Q school could. When my sister lpga tour as a junior, in 2017, but and I were 12, he realised age 27 pulled out of third stage that we needed help. born cavan, ireland to return to Duke. I felt I I’ve worked with Shane lives orlando was good enough to play O’Grady for 15 years now. on the LPGA Tour, but I ● ● ● made commitments to my team and Golf can be lonely. Being a golfer coaches. I didn’t want to let them down. in Ireland means practicing in the I have no regrets, even when I didn’t wind, rain and cold. Lisa and I were make it through Q school the next time. lucky to have each other. We brought ● ● ● each other along without realising it. I graduated and turned pro in 2018 Dad reinforced that it didn’t matter but struggled at LPGA Q school. who won as long as we did our best. I was horribly disappointed. Friends ● ● ● got their cards and made it look easy. Lisa and I used to dress the same. Why couldn’t I? I didn’t dwell on it; I One time we were in the final match went to the Ladies European Tour [LET] of the Irish Ladies Championship. and then Symetra [now Epson] Tour. One of the referees said to our mom, ● ● ● “We’re not sure we’ll be able to tell the I went from college, where everydifference. I need to know who has won thing is set for you, to pro golf where each hole. Can one of them change?” you’re on your own. Symetra is a ● ● ● grind. I’d never played eight events in a Our parents are school teachers, so row before. It’s easy to spend more than academics were important. Duke was you make. Entry fees were $500 a week; the best of academics and golf. It was a then you have to get there and find a big adjustment. There was no going place to stay. I was lucky to find host home on the weekends like our friends families and a few sponsors, so I wasn’t in Ireland. We moved halfway across the worrying about being able to afford gas world with two suitcases and our clubs. for my car or the next week’s entry fee, like other girls were. Lisa turned pro at the same time but retired soon after. She’s now a player manager at Modest! Golf, the company that represents me. ● ● ●

I finished high enough on the money list to get my LPGA Tour card for

2020. I realised quickly that I needed to learn how to go low. You have to get so comfortable doing it that it becomes habit. I’m getting a sense for it, especially after Evian, where I shot a finalround 61, tying the record for lowest round at a major. That was an incredible day, but the Solheim Cup is the greatest moment of my career so far. ● ● ●

My teammates warned me how nervous I’d be on the first tee, saying

I’d be lucky to make contact. The crowds were so loud. To stand up and hit a drive straight down the middle, it set the tone for the rest of the week. I didn’t expect to set the record for most points scored by a rookie, but once I got going, the momentum didn’t stop. ● ● ●

I went to assistant captain Suzann

Pettersen for advice all week. I’ve always admired her determination and competitiveness. She said not to do anything differently, to trust what got me there. That reassurance from her and captain Catriona Matthew gave me a lot of confidence. ● ● ●

After the Solheim Cup, they had a

parade for me at home. I rode in a gold convertible BMW, my 94-year-old grandmother was in the passenger seat waving at everybody with me. People were out with flags and banners, cheering. It was like St. Patrick’s Day. ● ● ●

I was the first Irishwoman to play

in the Solheim Cup. I wouldn’t have qualified if I hadn’t gotten LET status. I wouldn’t have gotten LET status if I’d breezed through Q school. The confidence I gained from that experience helped me get my first LPGA Tour victory—and Ireland’s—in February. Growing up I watched Irish guys like Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy succeed on the PGA Tour. I hope my win will inspire girls in Ireland that the same can be possible for them.