Portmarnock in the frame for AIG Women's Open
Portmarnock Golf Club
LEONA MAGUIRE could be competing for a Major on home soil before the decade's end with Portmarnock Golf Club being actively considered by the R&A as a potential venue for the AIG Women's Open.
The Co Cavan star jumped to a career-high 11th in the Rolex Women's World Rankings following her lucrative ($550,000) runner-up finish to Lydia Ko in the CME Group Tour Championship on Sunday.
Having captured her maiden LPGA Tour title in February and racked up top 10 finishes at the US Women's Open and the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield, the Majors will be top of her wish list in 2023.
With Muirfield brilliantly staging this year's AIG Women's Women's Open six years after an initial attempt by the club to admit women members led to a 'no' vote, the Co Cavan star may yet get the chance to win a women's Major at Portmarnock.
Not only did the club vote to become gender neutral last year with its first female voting members expected to be elected in the coming days, leading R&A officials paid their second visit of the year to the links last Thursday with a view to staging a future Women's Open there.
The club’s first female general manager is also expected to begin work in January.
Maguire, 28 next week, certainly looks like a Major winner in waiting, having taken her game to a new level following last year's Solheim Cup performance, where she won 4.5 points from five matches in a record-breaking performance by a rookie.
NAPLES, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 20: Leona Maguire of Ireland plays her shot on the third hole during the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 20, 2022 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
"I'm really proud of how I did in the big events this year," said the Ballyconnell star, who tied for eighth in the US Women's Open at Pine Needles and fourth in the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield.
"The majors, US Open, British Open in particular, and this was almost like a mini-major to finish off the season. So I wasn't quite as consistent as last year, but I had some really big finishes in some big events, so I'm really proud of the year overall."
While she had mixed emotions after finishing two strokes behind Ko on Sunday to miss out on a $2m payday, she's pleased with her progress as a pro.
"Obviously I would have loved to have won, but four years ago, pretty much this week, I missed Q school by a shot," she explained. "I drove by that exit on Sunday driving down here, and to be here today in this position, it's a big jump forward.
"It's been an incredible year. It's been my best season so far, and I've got better every year. Looking forward to the offseason now and hopefully can have an even better 2023."
Maguire will round off 2023 in the LET's season-ending €650,000 Andalucia Open de España at Alferini Golf this week, but Séamus Power has six weeks off.
After winning the Bermuda Championship and finishing third in Mayakoba, the Tooraneena man tied for fifth in the RSM Classic at Sea Island on Sunday to move up to a career-high of 28th in the world.
He will remain top of the FedEx Cup standings until he returns for the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January. But he can't wait to get home for Christmas for a special joint celebration at West Waterford Golf Club following clubmate Gary Hurley's amazing success at the DP World Tour Qualifying School.
"That's a massive achievement," he said of Hurley. "And then me being able to get the win in the fall, so hopefully we'll have a celebration for golf when we go home."
Increasingly comfortable at golf's top table, he added, "Even the last couple days, I didn't hit it well, but I was able to keep it on the golf course, and then I just felt I had a chance."
