Leona Maguire: I'd have packed it in but for the Irish support
Leona Maguire of Team Ireland in action during Round 1. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
On the final day of the Olympics women’s individual singles at Le Golf National, Team Ireland's Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire had their best rounds of the week with a 70 and 71 respectively.
Despite a difficult start to the week, Meadow has played some brilliant golf over the last two rounds and followed up her 72 on Friday to shoot a two-under-par round of 70 this afternoon, including five birdies. It leaves the 32-year-old on six-over overall and 39th overall at Paris 2024.
Afterwards Meadow said: “It was solid today and I didn’t give it up. It’s been a long four days after starting at six-over so I’m proud of myself I kept going and I got some cheers today from the Irish fans which was great. It’s nice to finish on a positive no matter what.”
On these Games, her third, she said: “It’s been fantastic, every Olympics has been amazing but I will say this has probably been my favourite. My husband is here, the team is here, and this is my third one with Leona, she is one of my best friends and it’s pretty cool to share that with everyone close to me, and being the first group on the first day is something I’ll never forget.”
Leona Maguire showed huge character and trademark determination to finish her week with an excellent one-under-par round today. The Cavan golfer carded four birdies on Saturday, including two on the home stretch, to ensure she bounced back and picked up some momentum heading into the Women's Irish Open at Carton House at the end of this month.
Reflecting on the week, Maguire said: "I've felt absolutely rotten the last few days and I know that wasn't the golf I'm capable of but you don't give up until the very end even if it feels like it's too far gone. I suppose it was as much about having a point to prove to myself today because I knew I could handle this golf course and an under-par round, I'll take that.
"I played some really nice golf today. It's a difficult course, you really need your wits about you and you need to be at 100% and I was far from that this week but I'm proud of the way I bounced back today."
On the support she received at Le Golf National, Maguire added: "It's been fantastic, it's some of the biggest crowds we've ever seen, so many tricolours and jerseys. To be honest if it wasn't for all the support I probably would have thought about packing it in but it has been phenomenal, the whole support the Irish team has gotten over the last few weeks, both at home and over here, has been amazing and I'm very grateful to be part of a great team."
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko holds a five shot lead on 11-under through 12 holes today over Germany’s Esther Henseleit and Australia’s Hannah Green both on six-under currently.
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