LEONA Maguire quipped “Not my usual golfing attire” while showing off glamorous photoshoot pics for the Women’s Irish Open.
Once again the Cavan native will be the top drawer among this year’s field as the tournament tees off this morning.
The leading Irish hope tees off at 9am from the Carton House course[/caption]
She said it was ‘fun’ to combine the course with fancier clothes than is typically seen there[/caption]
It was shot in association with sponsors BMW Ireland and KPMG Ireland[/caption]
The Solheim Cup star reckons she is getting back to top form[/caption]
Instagram followers loved seeing her more fashionable side being debuted on the course while promoting this week’s showpiece event on the Irish golfing calendar.
Maddy hailed: “Absolutely slayyyy”. In a similarly empowering message, Valerie Wheeler of RTE commented: “Girl, you are fire!”
Olivia branded her a “model” while Ana praised: “That jumpsuit with the red shoes is badass.”
The KPMG Women’s Irish Open tees off today for the fourth year running since its 10-year hiatus.
Maguire reckons she is hitting form at the right time as the 30-year-old has finished in the top 20 in her last two events.
And Maguire — one of 16 Irish players in the field — said: “It’s always one of my favourite events of the year.
“It’s nice to be back at Carton House. I feel like my game has been shaping up quite nicely.
“I feel I had a good run at KPMG PGA Women’s Championship and then a slightly different format last week with the team event, but I feel I have some good momentum heading into this week.
“It’s nice to play in front of home fans and hopefully give them something to cheer about.”
Maguire tees off at 9am, alongside Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and Clare amateur Áine Donegan.
Last year 37,000 spectators flooded Carton House to set a record attendance for the event.
Maguire was the highest Irish finisher in tied 15th at the 2024 edition, nine shots off the winner Annabel Dimmock who is competing again this year.
The pair will be joined by Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Nordqvist, Madelene Sagström and many more stars out on the course.
There will also be a record number of Irish players – 16 in total, including seven professionals and nine amateurs – competing in Kildare.
Her shoot also included a few indoor pics[/caption]
It’s easy to see why the Kildare venue has five stars to its name[/caption]
Maguire will be joined by fellow Irish competitors Olivia Mehaffey, Sara Byrne, Lauren Walsh, Annabel Wilson, Anna Foster, and Canice Screene.
An Irish golfer is yet to win in the competition’s 30-year history.
When speaking to RTÉ Maguire spoke highly of the competition saying: “I think it’s testament to the investment KPMG have put into the event over the last number of years.
“Since it came back at Dromoland a couple of years ago (2022) the tournament has really elevated and built year-on-year.
“We have increased numbers of spectators and obviously the increase in the number of top quality players coming over.
“Anna Nordqvist, Charley Hull, they’re a little bit taken aback when they see the number of Irish fans that come out.
“Even this week I’ve had a few friends taking pictures beside Luas signs of me and it’s a bit surreal at times. It’s one of the pinnacle events and one of the premier events on the Ladies European Tour.”
