Leona Maguire: 'I’ll look back in 20, 30 years and realise how special it was'

Maguire is one of four rookies in the Europe team that takes on USA Inverness Club in Toledo this weekend.

Leona Maguire of Ireland walks the 12th hole with her caddie during a practice round ahead of the 2021 Solheim Cup. Picture: Brian Spurlock/Sportsfile

Mel Reid admits she doesn’t know Leona Maguire well but she’s already given her a nickname and hailed her as one of four “fantastic” rookies as Europe counts down to its Solheim Cup defence at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday.

Reid has been handed the role of player-leader by skipper Catriona Matthew for her fourth Solheim Cup appearance and after acting as a vice-captain at Gleneagles in 2019, she’s excited Europe can count on a player of the quality of the Co Cavan star, who is the leading European on the Race to CME Globe standings on the LPGA Tour this year, ranked ahead of every American bar the Korda sisters Jessica and world No 1 Nelly.