Leona Maguire is hoping to catch a few of subsequent week’s Ryder Cup motion together with her third LPGA title below her belt.
However she’ll must be affected person after a climate delay halted her title cost within the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
The Cavan star was only a shot off the lead after opening with a bogey-free, seven-under 64 on Friday however spent Saturday sitting within the clubhouse as thunderstorms and torrential rain allowed solely a handful of gamers to play any golf.
Maguire was tied for fourth, only a shot behind Alison Lee, Sarah Schmelzel and Minami Katsu at Pinnacle Nation Membership, the place Stephanie Meadow was again on two-under.
The Ballyconnell expertise was annoyed to not play any golf after her sensational begin, however she’s trying ahead to subsequent week’s Ryder Cup motion at Bethpage Black, the place Europe can be bidding to win away from house for the primary time since 2012.
“It is going to be thrilling,” stated Maguire, who was the star of the present in Europe’s 2021 Solheim Cup win in Ohio, successful 4.5 factors out of 5.
“I feel Europe have a really robust process on their fingers. However clearly, our boys are in good condition and have some good momentum on their facet.
“I do know they’re pulling out all of the stops and have been at Bethpage the previous few days getting ready, they usually’ve acquired an enormous group behind them.
“I do not envy them with the crowds; it is clearly going to be a really robust process. However we’ll be rooting for them and cheering them on, and particularly our Irish guys, Rory and Shane.”
Maguire arrived in Arkansas after a two-week break at house, the place she might really feel Ryder Cup fever brewing,
“There was clearly plenty of backwards and forwards with who the picks have been going to be, after which clearly, Irish Open, there was plenty of buzz,” she informed Golf Channel. “It is thrilling. I imply, all people loves the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. These group occasions. You simply cannot beat it, and the rivalry within the environment and all of that.
“And my brother truly lives in New York, so he is hoping to go. In order that’s thrilling for him, and we’ll have another European fan hopefully there.
“However it’s such a cool occasion. We’ll be on our approach to Hawaii [for the LOTTE Championship], however hopefully we’ll catch a few of it on the way in which.”
Maguire is eager to move to Hawaii with one other win below her belt, however she admitted the climate delay in Arkansas has been irritating.
“I’ve simply been chilling out actually,” she stated. “Had breakfast, had lunch, performed some card video games, not likely an entire lot you are able to do. Simply must have a little bit of persistence.
“There’s been plenty of heavy rain. I can not think about what kind of form the golf course is in, however hopefully we’ll get some golf within the subsequent few days.”
It has been an up-and-down season for Maguire, who’s ranked 77th on the earth after notching simply two top-10s this season.
However she feels she’s enjoying properly and hopes to show it, nonetheless many holes are performed in Arkansas.
“Clearly, if you’re enjoying properly, you are itching to go and also you wish to get on the market,” she defined.
“However on the similar time, I do know that I am enjoying properly, so it is a good place to be in.
“We’ll see what comes over the weekend and what we are able to do. However in the end, the purpose is to attempt to get as a lot confidence as we are able to this weekend.”
Officers will resolve at this time whether or not they cut back the occasion to 36 holes or play all three rounds.
“I feel the way in which this match at all times is, it is a bit of a birdie fest,” Maguire stated.
“It is at all times a bit of little bit of a dash. So that you’re simply making an attempt to make as many birdies as you may.
“And if that is 36 [holes], nice. If it is 54, even higher, however nicer realizing that it acquired off to a greater begin yesterday.”
