Leona Maguire: Irish golfer who excels at Women & # 039; s British Open
Leona Maguire was number one in the world rankings for women amateurs before she turned professional
Leona Maguire believes a previous victory at Royal Troon her hopes in the Women's British Open will increase next month.
Maguire from Northern Ireland, who is on her LPGA Tour in her first year, won the Scottish Women's Amateur Open at 2pm on the left course in 2009.
"This year's goal was to become majors and I'm in the British Open, so that's a box checked," said Maguire.
"It's one of my favorite courses – it's a course I like and I have fond memories of it."
Maguire, who played her has improved the Covid-19 lockdown, believes the tournament offers an opportunity to recruit a new audience.
"We had our fingers crossed for a while that the British Open would go, especially since the men's tournament would be canceled. It is a huge opportunity for us, "Maguire, 25, told Sportsound Extra Time.
" It will be on TV and hopefully we can reach a wider audience that we normally would – I think it is likely to turn many unbelievers into golf enthusiasts for women. "
" When we grew up there was no one to look up to "
] Maguire's goals also include seeing more girls practicing the sport and hoping that joining fellow Irish player Stephanie Meadow on the LPGA Tour will be an inspiration.
"There are certainly a lot more girls playing now than when I started and a lot more 10- and 11-year-olds come by to watch events. It's great to see, "added the Cavan golfer.
" It's great that myself and Stephanie are out of the LPGA now – when we grew up there was no Irish golfer on the LPGA Tour, there was no one to look up to.
"We had guys on the tour but no ladies, so hopefully we can get that conveyor belt going like the guys on their side and get a few more on tour pretty soon.
"That's the thing, just that visibility there – young girls can look up to us to see that it is possible to be a professional golfer. If we can do it, there is no reason why they can't. "
