LPGABrian KeoghMuirfieldLeona Maguire, Dermot Byrne

Leona Maguire parts company with caddie Dermot Byrne

LPGABrian KeoghMuirfieldLeona Maguire, Dermot Byrne
Leona Maguire parts company with caddie Dermot Byrne
2022 AIG Women's Open, Muirfield, East Lothian. Scotland. July 4-7 2022. Leona Maguire of Ireland during the third round. Credit: Tristan Jones/LET

Leona Maguire has parted company with caddie Dermot Byrne after three years together.

The Bray bagman and the Co Cavan star (29), who won her first LET title when she captured the Aramco Team Series in London 11 days ago, decided to part company after last week’s missed cut in the Amundo Evian Championship.

Maguire’s manager, Mark McDonnell of Modest! Golf Management said: “They’ve had a wonderful, wonderful run together, and they've achieved a lot together. It was just time for both of them to start something new.”
Maguire’s failure to make the weekend at Evian Resort was her third missed cut in four major starts so far this season.

She missed the weekend action in the Chevron Championship in April and the US Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club last month but looked to have turned the corner when she finished tied for 24th in the KPMG Women’s PGA at Sahalee in Washington State three weeks ago.

The pair had enjoyed tremendous success since partnering in June 2022, winning two LPGA Tour titles, one LET title, and two Solheim Cups.

"He's had a great career as a caddie," Maguire said after Byrne helped her become the first Irishwoman to win an LPGA event when she captured the Drive On Championship in February 2022, eight months after teaming up.  "He didn't have to take my call. He took a big gamble coming out here on the LPGA never having done it before.

"I guess he saw something in me and felt like he could make a difference. I'm going to be forever grateful for him.”  

Byrne parted company with Shane Lowry after the 2018 Open at Carnoustie following a nine-year stint.

Maguire, who returns to action in next week’s CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Canada next week, has yet to name a replacement for Byrne.

Ranked a career-best 10th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings shortly after notching her second LPGA win in the Meijer LPGA Classic last year, Maguire is now ranked 29th, having slipped to 32nd before her win in the Aramco Team Series event in London.