Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew keeping an eye on Leona Maguire's progress

“The Solheim Cup is a bit out of my control, but the better I do, the better chance I have.”

Leona Maguire. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Leona Maguire was thrilled to see her off-season work pay-off and get a congratulatory text from Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew after she secured her first LPGA Tour top-10 on US soil in the Drive On Championship in Florida.

The Slieve Russell star, 26, tied for sixth behind Austin Ernst at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club to move to 14th in the Race to CME Globe Points list, second in the Rookie of the Year race and close to the top 100 in the Rolex Rankings when they are updated later today.