Leona Maguire expressed her disappointment at sitting out of a day of Solheim Cup matches last Saturday, describing it as a “bitter pill to swallow.” The Irish golfer felt that the European captain, Suzann Pettersen, benched her because they believed her game was too short and lacked enough birdies for the setup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
However, in Sunday singles, Maguire showcased her skills by recording five birdies in 15 holes to defeat Ally Ewing 4 up. She felt that her performance demonstrated that there are various ways to succeed in golf.
At the Kroger Queen City Championship this week, Maguire kicked off the tournament with an impressive 67 at TPC River’s Bend.
When asked if her round was a message to Pettersen, Maguire responded by stating that she and Pettersen are on good terms and that she respects the captain’s decision to bench her for the team’s benefit. Maguire emphasized her focus on playing strong and finishing the season well.
In her previous Solheim Cup appearances, Maguire was a key player, participating in all five matches. However, in the recent competition in Virginia, she only played twice as Team USA emerged victorious for the first time since 2017.
Reflecting on her performance at the Kroger, where she finished tied for 45th, Maguire admitted to a challenging few months leading up to the Solheim Cup and expressed that she hadn’t been enjoying her golf as much as she wanted. The Solheim experience reignited her passion for the game, despite her unexpected role in the competition.
Following Europe’s loss of the cup, Pettersen defended her decision to bench Maguire for multiple sessions, stating that she trusted her instincts and acknowledged that sometimes players can be outplayed.
Form is temporary, class is permanent
💪🏼🇪🇺 🦁 https://t.co/xRAYLx15mW— Leona Maguire (@leona_maguire) September 15, 2024
