Leona Maguire feels blessed. The 2023 Solheim Cup winner added another feather to her cap. The Irish pro was recognized for her outstanding performance in June which not only helped her achieve a career milestone but also lifted her country to a spot it never reached before. 

Maguire kicked off the year with two top-ten finishes before hitting a slump in March. However, she went full throttle three months later to reach her career-high tenth spot in the Rolex World Rankings. June was also the month when she finally clinched the Meijer LPGA Classic after failing twice in the last two years. The award is surely a respite for the golfer after the Grant Thornton heartbreak and a huge slip in the Rolex World Ranking.

Leona Maguire ends the year with a broad smile

The Irish Times presented Maguire the memento on December 22nd at Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel alongside the Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Award 2023. The Irish daily recognizes the best achievements for a particular sport and selects the player for that month. 

June was a stellar month for the 29-year-old pro. The Cavan golfer netted a top-ten finish at the Mizuho Americas Open, before going on to win her second LPGA title at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Maguire shot a brilliant bogey-free final round to surge ahead of Thai Superstar Ariya Jutanugarn. Additionally, her T11 finish at the Women’s PGA Championship also contributed to the recognition. 

Maguire posted on her X handle “Thank you @IrishTimesSport (Irish Times Sport) for my June award. Great to spend the afternoon celebrating with some of Ireland’s best athletes, friends and the people who help us do what we do.” 

Although the next few months were tough for the Irish pro, Leona Maguire was on a roll at the Solheim Cup. Her blistering form reached a crescendo as the Europeans and Americans descended on the Iberian country for the patriotic showdown. However, her last three finishes outside the top thirty had a massive impact on her Rolex Rankings.

How has the year been for the Irish golfer?

Maguire bagged her second LPGA title this season and broke into the top ten in the Rolex World Ranking for the first time. It was also the first time that an Irish female golfer reached the top ten in the world ranking. Moreover, the Irish pro played in all five matches bringing home three points from a possible five, helping the team to mount a massive comeback after the whitewash in Friday Fourballs. 

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