Maguire notches “big mental win” to top qualifiers for T-Mobile Match Play

Leona Maguire feels she notched “an enormous psychological win” when she fired an excellent 69 in powerful circumstances to prime the qualifiers for the T-Cellular Match Play in Las Vegas.

With simply two weeks to go to the season’s first main, the Co Cavan star topped the sector by three photographs on six-under after 54 holes and is the primary seed heading into as we speak’s quarter-finals at Shadow Creek.

Minami Katsu, Angel Yin, Rose Zhang, Sei Younger Kim, Nelly Korda, Narin An and Moriya Jutanugarn (after a four-way playoff for the ultimate spot) additionally made the highest eight.

However Maguire is filled with confidence after ending her third spherical with two birdies to prime the qualifiers by three photographs on six-under as Stephanie Meadow missed out within the prime eight by 4 photographs after a 78.

“At this time was an enormous psychological win for me,”

stated Maguire, who faces Jutanugarn within the quarterfinals after the Thai star birdied the third playoff gap to see off Brook Henderson and Yuka Saso after Hae Ran Ryu had been eradicated on the first additional gap.

“I believe going out, we knew the circumstances have been going to be powerful. It was going to be windy; it was going to be swirling, the greens have been going to get agency within the afternoon.”

The Ballyconnell battler made only one bogey in spherical three and after reaching the semi-finals final yr, she’s trying ahead to an enormous weekend.

“Simply actually dedicated to our targets and picked some very nice photographs and executed very well. Me and Dermot (her caddy) labored very well on the market as we speak and stayed very affected person, simply stayed actually optimistic as nicely and embraced the problem as we speak.

“That was kind of the mentality, was having fun with placing the items of the puzzle collectively on each shot somewhat than specializing in how onerous it truly was.

“It’s totally completely different circumstances to final yr. Clearly, it’s a lot windier and lots colder. However I really like this golf course. I believe it is among the best, if not the very best, golf course we play all yr.

“It is an unbelievable take a look at. It is actually a significant championship golf course. You get punished when you hit dangerous photographs and get rewarded when you hit good photographs, and that is precisely how golf needs to be I believe.

“I actually benefit from the take a look at that it brings. Trying ahead to a different day tomorrow.”

With the Chevron Championship – the opening major- lower than a fortnight away, Maguire is rounding into kind.

But when she’s to win her first title this yr she could should get previous world primary Nelly Korda, who’s looking for her fourth win in a row and is seeded to fulfill Maguire within the closing.

“Yeah, I imply, Nelly is the very best participant on this planet proper now,” she stated. “She’s taking part in nice golf, so no shock she’s within the match play.

“The circumstances on the golf course brings out the very best in all people, and it is no shock to see among the finest gamers on this planet up close to the highest of the leaderboard.

“I am positive Nelly goes to be a tricky match for whoever she performs. She’s been on fairly a roll and really spectacular to observe.”

Maguire didn’t stick round to see who emerged from the playoff to face her as we speak.

“Completely not,” she stated. “I am out of right here. Going to get some meals actually fast and get to mattress.

“I believe there may be a lot vitality and psychological vitality expended as we speak. It is a fast turnaround for tomorrow, so get some good meals and get to mattress early and go once more tomorrow.”