Tomorrow the serious business of the KMPG Irish Women’s Open at Carton House gets under way. There is a large attendance expected over the tournament with numbers expected to exceed over 40,000 over the four days. Preparations are complete, Carton House has produced a magnificent stage to host the eagerly awaited event. At the press briefing yesterday, Tuesday our Irish star Leona Maguire, pictured above,  spoke of her delight at coming home to support the event and give all of us a chance to see the dynamo from Cavan that has excelled in her Solheim Cup performances. With a 75% success rate she fully plans to bring her A game to Ohio and land a four in a row,  with other eleven team members on the European team, led by Suzanne Peterson. That’s for another day, this week it’s the Irish Women’s Open

Maguire spoke about the growth of the tournament year on year but also pointed out the purse of €400,000 to play for compared to €9million in the men’s game. There is a tournament in the States this week worth €4 million so it’s a choice to lead up the Irish Open.

“I think the nice thing for me is when I hear the other girls on the LE (Ladies European) Team talk about how much they enjoy coming here because they feel like it’s a really big event that almost has a major feel to it. And we always get such great quality golf courses and the crowds are very knowledgeable and very supportive. It’s nice to see everybody excited to come here and it does have that real big feel to it and I think that really matters in the women’s game.”

Listening to Maguire you sense the steeliness in her speech as she talks about the state of mind; ”I am not afraid of anyone who turn up at the first tee.” She has built a huge fan base and along with other Irish players competing for the No 1 spot on the Irish Open you know you will get nothing but 100% over the tournament.

With her participation in Paris in the Olympics, she had high praise to the way the Irish Olympians performed with our best ever medal haul. She  said one of her greatest motivators was none other than Pauric Harrington back in 2007 as a young girl then it was amazing watching him succeed, it helped her to want to do that

as a woman, she also praised another sporting icon Katie Taylor as a leading light in showing the pedigree and quality of Irelands rising stars. It was back in London in 2012 when Taylor won the famous gold and set the bar for others to follow. In all sports we are able to reach the heights.

  Above; Aideen Walsh is the World Amateur Golf ranking player while rookie of the year
professional Lauren Walsh’s most recent win was at the 2023 NCAA Division I
women’s golf championship with Wake Forest

 Above;  2018 AIG Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall is among the top field in the
KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House

When asked ” How does Carton House rank with her and is it one of her favourite courses in Ireland?”  Leona Maguire’s replied in straight shooting style ;

“It’s a big question. I haven’t actually played here a lot. I know it’s the centre of high performance golf in Ireland but that was after my time so I didn’t actually spend all that much time here.”

“The first time I ever played the O’Meara course was in 2020 during Covid when Golf Ireland organised a few one day 36 hole events with the lads and I played with the lads to get ready before we went back on our respective tours.

“I think it will be a great test this week. I think it gives us a nice mix of some harder holes and some good birdie opportunities.”

So you wouldn’t say it’s in your top 5? “Ask me again on Sunday,” Maguire joked.

There will be big crowds , of that there is little doubt,  if you haven’t made plans for the coming days and weekend get along to Carton House, and witness a truly

magnificent arena where some of the best of golfers in the world will vie for the title of KPGM Irish Women’s Open. Who knows what budding stars will follow.

Lead picture; Ladies European Tour 2024 winner and the only Irish woman to win on the LPGA
tour, Leona Maguire is feeling confident about the KPMG Women’s Irish Open