Leona Maguire insists she has no respect’ for Suzann Pettersen after Solheim Cup snub
Leona Maguire expressed her deep respect for European captain Suzann Pettersen after overcoming a difficult period in her career and building on her Solheim Cup singles victory with a strong start at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati. Maguire, who hails from Co Cavan, Ireland, shot a five-under-par 67 in the opening round, putting…
Leona Maguire expressed her deep respect for European captain Suzann Pettersen after overcoming a difficult period in her career and building on her Solheim Cup singles victory with a strong start at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati. Maguire, who hails from Co Cavan, Ireland, shot a five-under-par 67 in the opening round, putting her in a tie for fourth place alongside world number one Nelly Korda, just two shots behind the clubhouse leader Ashleigh Buhai.
Reflecting on her Solheim Cup experience, Maguire admitted that being benched by Pettersen for three of the first four sessions during Europe’s 15½-12½ defeat to the U.S. in Virginia had been “a bitter pill to swallow.” She revealed that she received little explanation for her exclusion on Friday and Saturday, which only added to her determination to prove her worth during her Sunday singles match against Ally Ewing, which she won decisively 4&3.
Despite feeling she had “a point to prove” during her Solheim Cup singles match, Maguire emphasized that there was no ill-will between her and Pettersen. She insisted that their relationship remained strong and that she had no issues with the captain’s decision-making, even though it was tough to sit out. “Me and Suzann are on very good terms,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for her. She was a hero of mine growing up, and ultimately, it was her decision.”
Maguire also stressed that her impressive round in Cincinnati wasn’t intended to send any message to Pettersen. “Last week, she did what was best for the team, and I’d have been happy to sit out every match if it meant we’d have brought back the trophy,” she explained, showing her commitment to the team’s success over individual accolades.
The past few months have been challenging for Maguire, who struggled with her form, missing the cut in three of the five Majors this season and falling ill on her way to finishing last at the Olympics. She admitted that her recent performances had taken a toll on her enjoyment of the game. “The last few months, I haven’t enjoyed my golf as much as I should have,” she said. However, her Solheim Cup experience served as a reminder of how much she loves the game, particularly when competing in such a prestigious event.
Maguire credited her strong Solheim Cup finish for helping her regain momentum heading into the tournament in Oh⁸io. She made an eagle and five birdies during her round, indicating that her form is returning as she looks to build on the confidence gained from her singles win.
“I finished off with a nice run on Sunday last week, and it’s been a tough couple of months,” she said. “I love the Solheim, and it’s nice to sort of have something to look forward to every two years and just try to build up the momentum from last week.”
With her performance in Cincinnati, Maguire seems to have put her recent struggles behind her, focusing on enjoying the game and delivering strong results. The round in Ohio was a positive step forward, demonstrating that she is back on track and ready to compete at the highest level again.
