Leona Maguire

Leona Maguire admitted that her patience was key as she overcame some frustration and birdied three of her last five holes to move into contention for the ...

You can hit three clubs the same distance and you have to think that little bit more." I hit it in a few bunkers today and they are very penal, so I will try to stay out of them for the weekend." "So I didn't take advantage of some of the easier holes and then birdied two of the hardest holes, so that's links golf.

Irish star makes three birdies in final five holes to card a 69 and move to two under.

Then, on the 17th, the only par five on the back nine, and playing downwind, Maguire’s approach took one of those kicks that love to play devilment with players. It is a nice position to be going into the weekend, some nice momentum finishing off today. “It is that awkward length of a bunker shot, but I committed to it. Left with 224 yards to the pin, and 209 to the front of the green, Maguire hit the 4-hybrid she’d placed in her bag rather than her favoured 9-wood for this week of links and saw the approach shot get a favourable kick so that it rested four feet from the flag. She rolled in the eagle putt – “That eagle was big,” she would later admit – as she turned in 35 to get to one under on her round and for the championship. Left with a putt of 55 feet, she sank the raker.

Leona Maguire registered three birdies over her last five holes to vault herself into contention at the AIG Women's Open in Muirfield.

I hit it in a few bunkers today and they are very penal, so I will try to stay out of them for the weekend." Her hot streak included the above 40-foot putt. "I thought I hit a good shot on 11, got screwed in the bunker up the face and hit a couple of bad iron shots into the par-threes on four and 13 and dropped those shots, but I birdied 14 and 15, which are probably two of the hardest holes out there, so that was a nice boost heading into those last few holes.

Leona Maguire played her way into contention at the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield, posting an impressive second round 69 to move up the leaderboard.

"Three under in the last five is really good momentum heading into the weekend. "I love links golf, you have to be creative. "You can't get too frustrated," said Maguire to Sky Sports after her round, commenting on her plan to remain patient at the testing links track.

Leona Maguire failed to ignite on the back nine on the first day of the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield.

“I wouldn’t be happy if it wasn’t worth it. “Apart from the two doubles I actually played quite well. I just went out and enjoyed my warm-up, had a wee chat with Dean (Robertson, her coach and caddie). “I know where it is, I have an air tag on it. “However, for this tournament I could adapt my style to the elements. Tuesday, I wore my sister’s pants and Wednesday I wore Alison Lee’s pants.

A level par round of 71 for Co Cavan woman leaves her six shots off the lead.

A 10 yard draw out here could be 40, so I am going to go hit some cuts on the range. For Stephanie Meadow, the other Irish player in the field, it proved to be a frustrating day with what she described as a “hooky” driver coming into play far too often for her liking. I like the challenge and I think that’s going to be half the battle this week, is that mental attitude of being willing to be for that fight.” You have to have patience and that acceptance around here and take your chances when you get them. That approach shot actually finished six feet from the pin and she rolled in her opening birdie of the day to be up-and-running. It is going to be a long week, nobody is going to win it today.

That leaves the Cavan native in a tie for 31st and six shots off clubhouse leader Hinako Shibuno of Japan. Advertisement. Stephanie Meadow is 3-over after 10 ...

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That effort keeps the Cavan star within six shots of leader and former champion Hinako Shibuno, who tore it up with a six-under-par round of 65. "I played ...

Tuesday, I wore my sister’s pants and Wednesday I wore Alison Lee’s pants. “However, for this tournament I could adapt my style to the elements. “I know where it is, I have an air tag on it. It was those two 3-putts were a little disappointing but other than that it was a pretty solid round I think to start. Once I focused on this, I could play much better. It's a lot of crosswinds and you have to commit to your targets.

Leona Maguire shot a level par 71 on the first day of the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield to stay within six shots of leader Hinako Shibuno after the former ...

"Apart from the two doubles I actually played quite well. "I wouldn’t be happy if it wasn’t worth it. "I know where it is, I have an air tag on it. "However, for this tournament I could adapt my style to the elements. I just went out and enjoyed my warm-up, had a wee chat with Dean (Robertson, her coach and caddie). "Two years ago when we were playing at Royal Troon, the wind completely overtook my shots.

The first four LPGA major winners this season were Jennifer Kupcho, Chevron Championship; Minjee Lee, U.S. Women's Open; In Gee Chun, KPMG Women's PGA ...

Muirfield was actually removed from the R&A’s rota of British Open host venues after a 2016 membership vote failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to change the rule to admit women. Take a look at some photos from the start of an historic week: