Olympics opening falls flat for Meadow and Maguire

Maguire was one among a clutch of players to speak glowingly of the occasion and of the crowds that have descended on to the Le Golf National acreage.

TOUGH GOING: Leona Maguire of Team Ireland in action on the eighteenth green. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Stephanie Meadow had been buzzing for this. The Irishwoman was tasked with getting the women’s 2024 Olympic golf tournament underway on Wednesday morning and she would be sharing the honour with Perrine Delacour of France.

The home crowds have cheered every French athlete to the hilt here, regardless of sport or time of day. This 9am local tee-time was no different and Delacour emoted later about trying to hold back the tears as La Marseillaise rose up into the summer sky.