Leona Maguire might have to pay Padraig Harrington another visit this summer. The Meijer LPGA Classic winner credited several key up-and-downs this week to shots Ireland’s Harrington, a three-time major winner, taught her last summer ahead of the AIG Women’s British Open.
As U.S. Open contender Rory McIlroy arrived at Los Angeles Country Club for the final round, Maguire was lighting up the closing holes at Blythefield Country Club in Bellmont, Michigan, on Sunday. After finishing runner-up at the Meijer the past two years, the Irishwoman put the hammer down on the field, playing the last six holes in 6 under to pull away with a back-nine 30 en route to a closing 64.
Maguire, 28, became the first Irishwoman to win on the LPGA in February 2022 at the Drive On Championship. The former Duke player dominated the amateur game, ranking No. 1 for 135 weeks, a record that was only recently broken by Rose Zhang.
Maguire earned $375,000 for the victory.
Maguire began the day at 13 under and set a goal of getting to 20 under for the tournament. She bested that by a shot, beating Ariya Jutanugarn by two strokes and Xiyu “Janet” Lin and Amy Yang by three.
“It’s hugely satisfying,” Maguire said of her second career LPGA title. “I think it’s one thing knowing what to do; another thing executing on it.”
A well-deserved winning moment for @leona_maguire
pic.twitter.com/Yp8Fjv0qvL
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 18, 2023
China’s Lin looked poised to collect her first trophy in 202 starts on the LPGA until a misfire off the tee on the 17th hole bounced off a spectator in a chair, resulting in a lie that required negotiating a tree. Lin wound up bogeying the hole as Maguire tapped in for birdie up ahead on the 18th.
“I learned something today, how to stay in process, stay true with myself, with my own game,” said Lin, who recovered from a bout with COVID last week.
“I feel like I didn’t do the best, but I did pretty good.”
Ariya Jutanugarn tried to put together one of the best comebacks on the LPGA since the 1980s after an opening 73 put her outside the top 100. The former No. 1 played the next three rounds 64-66-66 to finish runner-up.
Maguire will be one of the most talked-about players at next week’s KPMG Women’s PGA at famed Baltusrol Golf Club. She finished in the top 10 in two majors last season, including a career-best fourth at the AIG Women’s British Open at Muirfield. Maguire got a first look at Baltusrol’s Lower Course on Monday after the Mizuho Americas Open.
“It’s a beastly golf course,” she said. “It’s a real major venue. I think this week is good preparation for it. I feel like I drove the ball really well this week.
“I think the greens are going to be firm and fast there like they were here. A slightly different test, it being a major and all.”
The biggest key, Maguire said, will be resting and recovering as quickly as possible before getting to work on Monday in New Jersey with swing coach, Shane O’Grady, who has guided her since age 10.
O’Grady came to Orlando last week to work with Maguire at Lake Nona, making only minor adjustments. Maguire said her confidence has been strong for several weeks now, pointing to a key turning point to her season at the Chevron, when she shot 4 under on the back nine Friday to make the cut.
It’s worth noting that every champion in the history of the Meijer has won a major championship.
“I’m just trying to do what I do,” said Maguire, “and hopefully it’ll inspire a younger generation of Irish girls.”