Maguire would love to see Solheim Cup return to Ireland: “I know there are a few golf clubs interested”

Carlota Ciganda drives off in the singles. Picture: LET

Leona Maguire hopes Irish clubs interested in hosting the Solheim Cup will be inspired by Europe’s success in Spain.

The Co Cavan star was sensational in her second Solheim Cup, winning three points from five as Europe came back from 4-0 down on the first morning to draw 14-14 and retain the trophy.

Europe hoisted the trophy for the third time running and while Killeen Castle hosted the Solheim Cup in 2011, the touring professional for The K Club admits it would be special to see the event return to Ireland, even if she has to wait until she is captain.

“With the Ryder Cup in a few years, it will be fantastic to see,” Maguire said. “It would be fantastic. I know there are a few golf clubs interested in Ireland, and then who knows if it's the right time to play, or, yeah, maybe captaining there one day might not be too bad.”

Asked if she aspires to follow in the footsteps of Carlota Ciganda, who was the match-clinching hero on home soil, she said: “Look, what Carlota did was fairytale stuff today.  “But we've had one Solheim. If we could have another one fantastic, but every single one I've been a part of has been incredibly special and no matter where they are in the world, hopefully, I get to be a part of it.  

“I know there are a few Irish golf clubs that are interested in hosting and hopefully, they've seen what's happened in these last two and maybe there's a little bit extra incentive for them.”

As for a heart-stopping day, Maguire was thrilled to beat former world amateur number one Rose Zhang 4&3 and get Europe off to a fast start.

“It was nice to get blue on the board early,” she said of an emotional rollercoaster day. “When I finished, it was looking really good and then it wasn't looking so good and then back good again.

“The girls were incredible this week. It was a fantastic team, and we couldn't have asked for a better captain. It was, I think, very fitting that Carlota was the star of the show this week and got to hole the winning putt.

“The Irish fans were incredible this week. There were so many flags, so many cheers. I know we were in Spain, but it felt like we were in Ireland at a certain point. Just the support, this is a week I'll never forget.”

After winning four and a half points from five in Europe’s successful defence in Ohio two years ago, the world number 18 felt the weight of expectation.

“I had some really good golf, pulled off some shots when I really needed to when the team needed me to,” she said. “It's hard to get even a half of these matches, let alone a full point.

“I  don't know if I'll ever do it again what I did in Inverness (in 2021), but very proud of the entire team this week and I'm happy to have played a part in it.”

As for Europe’s fightback from Friday morning’s foursomes whitewash, she was not surprised.

“I think we have a team of fighters,” she said. “I don't think we were too worried. Obviously, it was a big mountain to climb. But we knew we had the games to pull it off. And I think that Friday afternoon, the fight that we showed, was really important and got us back into it.”

She was also pleased to beat new US star Zhang, who matched Tiger Woods’ US college records at Stanford and broke her own record for most weeks as world amateur number one.

“Look, I have a lot of respect for Rose and everything that she's achieved in the amateur game,” Maguire added as her teammates headed off to celebrate.

“But I didn't believe in the hype when I was amateur number one for that record.  

“So there was no reason to be starstruck or give her any more than she was due. I knew I'd have to play some really great golf today to come out on top and I brought it today.”

Clearly emotional at the finish, the notoriously teak-tough Cavan woman admitted it was “a special week”.  

“It brings something a little different out in everybody,” she said. “It was really cool on 15 green when I finished today with all the fans.

"I think there were nearly more Irish people than were at Dromoland a few weeks ago. So it was it was really special.”