Leona Maguire seeking Major consistency at Mission Hills

Leona Maguire has high hopes of pushing the big guns in the ANA Inspiration. Photo: Sportsfile

Brian Keogh

April 01 2021 02:30 AM

Leona Maguire has targeted putting four solid rounds together as she chases glory in the opening Major of the LPGA season.

After notching top-20 finishes in two of her first three starts this term, Maguire has high hopes of pushing the big guns in the ANA Inspiration but knows she must perform on all four days.

“I played in three Majors last year but I was really happy with the ANA where I had played as an amateur in 2016 but didn’t really get a handle on the golf course,” said Maguire, who tees off with Caroline Masson and Gerina Piller (9.17pm Irish time).

“I had a really good weekend there and moved myself nicely up the leaderboard.

“I had a great start in the KPMG and a great finish in the ANA so if I can string four rounds together, I will be laughing.”

Driving distance is not her forte but after getting her swing speed close to 100mph, she’s now got the power to reach more par-fives in two.

Given her improved putting and a higher flight with her irons, she can challenge at Mission Hills, where she recovered from a 73-72 start with weekend rounds of 68 and 69 to tie for 18th last year.

The key was becoming comfortable hitting the left-to-right shots she couldn’t hit there as an amateur and after adding a little length to her arsenal, she’s excited to be back.

Stephanie Meadow (29), meanwhile, plays alongside Japan’s Haru Nomura and Australia’s Su Oh (3.32pm) looking to improve on her tied-20th finish in 2015.

As for Ireland’s amateur stars, Royal County Down Ladies’ Olivia Mehaffey was tied 35th after opening with a three-over 75 at Champions Retreat in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur where Forrest Little’s Julie McCarthy was among the later starters.

“I felt it was a lot tougher than last year,” said Mehaffey, who bogeyed the second and seventh, then birdied the par-five ninth before dropping shots at the 16th and 17th to trail Spain’s Ana Peláez Triviño and world No 1 Rose Zhang by four shots.

“It’s important not to put yourself completely out of it today and I grinded quite well even though I didn’t have my best stuff at all.”

On the PGA Tour, Pádraig Harrington knows his short game must improve if he’s to challenge for the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio.

Like Graeme McDowell, who comes in with momentum following his tie for fourth on Sunday, he’ll be chasing a win and a last-gasp Masters invitation after struggling to 56th place in the Dominican Republic.

“I really struggled with my short game and that’s becoming a bit of a story this year for me,” Harrington said.

Valero Texas Open Sky Sports Golf (1.15 & 9.0)

ANA Inspiration, Sky Sports Golf (5.0)