Maguire hopes to continue Solheim heroics

Golf

The Solheim Cup tees off tomorrow (Friday) at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, USA, with Cavan superstar Leona Maguire hoping to continue her heroics in the competition.

“I really enjoy it. It’s an environment in which I seem to thrive,” Maguire told IrishGolfer.ie.

“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 Solheim Cup usually takes place every two years but is on just a year after the last renewal due to the move to even years.

The Ballyconnell ace, currently ranked 34th in the world after a slow season by her lofty standards, believes the Americans will be gunning for revenge in a big way this weekend.

“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.”

The opening ceremony will begin at 9.30pm tonight.