Maguire Now Ranks Among The Greats Of Irish Golf – Undefeated On Solheim Cup Debut

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Leona Maguire now ranks among the greats of Irish golf after the undefeated rookie sensationally delivered the first point on the final day of the 2021 Solheim Cup in Toledo, Ohio.

It was Finland’s Matilda Castren closing out Lizette Salas 1 up to hand the Europeans the decisive point in a 15-13 victory and just the second time in the 31-year history of the Solheim Cup that Europe has won on US soil.

And much akin to the men’s Ryder Cup, Europe has won four of the past six Solheim Cup encounters.

Maguire, 26, dominated her Singles match showdown and handed her struggling USA rival Jennifer Kupcho a 5 & 4 drubbing in glorious scoring conditions on the famed Inverness course in the Buckeye State.

“Jen’s a world class player and we have done back on many college teams and this will not be the first nor the last”, said Maguire.

“I knew I had to play really good golf to beat her.

“I just tried to get off to a really good start, and then that eagle on two, that’s a pretty good start, and I hit it really solid. Made birdie on six, which was a hole I hadn’t played well on all week.

“Yeah, I just wanted to put pressure on Jen from the get-go. She’s a phenomenal player; we’ve played many times before, and I knew I’d have to have my “A” game today, and luckily there was still some energy left in my legs and I was able to get it done.

“I’ve been having a great year since June really, since the Mediheal tournament and I just tried to carry that through”.

Among the first Maguire singled out for praise was her caddy Dermot Byrne, the former long-time caddy to Shane Lowry, who began caddying for Maguire in June this year where they teamed to share ninth place at the LPGA Mediheal Championship in California.

“Dermot has been a tremendous help to me, been my caddie since Mediheal and he was a huge part of this week, keeping me calm, keeping me focused, hitting the right shots at the right moments, and I had two phenomenal partners in Mel and Georgia, as well, that just let me do my thing, and yeah, just so proud of getting to play with them”.

The States had easily won the ‘making the most noise’ contest from the grandstands gathered around the first tee but out on the course it was Europe quietly going about their business.

Maguire was out in the third match on the final day against Kupcho.

The pair have known each other for some time with Kupcho having attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina from 2015-19. Maguire attended ACC rival Duke from 2014-18.

Maguire and Kupcho were both ranked No. 1 in the world during their college stints. They both won ‘Player of the Year’ awards.  They enjoyed great success in the amateurs ranks and often they had to beat the other to come out on top in tournaments.

The stakes were slightly higher on this Labor Day Monday in the U.S.

Maguire teed-up undefeated with three wins and a half from her four matches and the only player among the 24 to play all five matches.

Kupcho had two wins and a half from her three prior matches, and was denied a third win when Europe’s Mel Reid, who partnered Maguire in the Sunday afternoon four-balls, birdied the last.

Maguire teed-off first and immediately the 27-year-old seized the initiative, and fist pumping her right arm in brilliantly holing a seven-foot putt for an eagle ‘3’ at the par-5 second and moments after Kupcho had putted-out for birdie.

Maguire went 2-up with a birdie on four and then 3-up with a birdie on six and the Co. Cavan star made that 4-up in holing a 10-footer for birdie at the seventh and just as the final match was being introduced on the opening tee.

Kupcho was in bunker trouble again down the ninth but on this occasion needed to stand in a fairway bunker to play her shot that had stopped inches shy of finding the sand.   She eventually halved the hole with a scrambling par.

Two hours and 10-mins into Maguire’s match Europe were up in five of the 12 matches and with five wins required if Europe were to retain the trophy.

Legendary Dottie Pepper, and commentating on SKY Golf, summed-up the USA performance.

“So much was expected of the Americans but they’re just not delivering”, said the six-time capped former USA star.

Maguire and Kupcho halved the next six holes from the eighth to 13th before Maguire birdied the par-4 14th to claim her second 5 & 4 victory of the week.

Maguire was the only player on either side to play all five matches and with Maguire unbeaten in claiming a four-and-a-half points haul.

Kupcho was never ahead nor did the 24-year-old win a hole in their match that lasted just a few minutes over three hours.

Again, Pepper was singing Maguire’s praise.

“Catriona has got a whole lot out of her four picks and her three rookies with Leona just awesome”, said the 56-year-old American.



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