BALLYCONNELL golfer Leona Maguire has dedicated her historic Aramco Team Series individual event to her family and country after she etched her names into the sporting history books.
The former Solheim Cup winner made history on Friday when she became the first golfer from Ireland win on the Ladies European Tour, following standout success in Hertfordshire in England.
The 29-year-old golfer, who is seeded at world number 23, produced a faultless round of golf which included an eagle on the final hole to win the LET title at Hemel Hempstead.
“I knew no Irish girl had ever won on the LET [Ladies European Tour] before,” the Ballyconnell golfer, Leona Maguire, told Sky Sports after her win in Hertfordshire.
“That putt was for me, that putt was for my family, and that putt was for Ireland. I did it the hard way. It was tough out there, I didn’t play my best golf.”
The win is Maguire’s fifth as a professional golfer. She was delighted to come out on top of a tense battle against Spain’s Maria Hernandez on her way to the Aramco Team Series London event win.
“I did it the hard way, I felt like it was tough out there, I didn’t play my best golf and my caddie Dermot [Byrne] just kept saying, ‘be patient, be patient’,” Maguire told Sky News.
“He said right before I hit (the shot to the 18th), ‘Let’s hit the shot of the year here’ and yeah, it was just a perfect number and my trusty hybrids came in useful once again.”
The victory at Hemel Hempstead was Maguire’s first victory over the 2024 season, where she also pocketed a nice $75,000 on her way to the historic win on the Ladies European Tour.
Maguire has long been credited with her determination and courage and she showed nerves of steel to finish her round off in style with a standout eagle to wrap up the win in Hertfordshire.
“I just hung in there even when things weren’t going right and I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said the 29-year-old golfer.
“I was trying to hit a good putt, I knew no Irish girl had won. That putt was for me, for my family and for Ireland.”
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