Leona Maguire says she’s been inspired by Ireland’s most successful ever Olympics to try and bring home a medal in the Women’s Olympic Golf Competition in Paris.
The world number 30 is playing in her third Games and having finished tied 21st at an amateur in Rio in 2016 and tied 23rd in Tokyo three years ago, she’s gunning for the podium this year.
“I think we’re very fortunate to come from a country that there’s a huge sense of camaraderie amongst the Irish team,” said Maguire (29), who is joined at Le Golf National by Stephanie Meadow (32), who finished 31st in Rio and a brilliant seventh in Japan.
“They’ve just had an incredible Games so far, our best ever as a country. It’s been very inspiring to watch them succeed and do so well, and obviously, you want to be able to add to that.”
She added: “It’s a special event, and getting to represent your country is a huge honour. But to get to do it at an Olympic Games is even more special.
“I was at home this past week in Ireland, and the buzz around the country — everyone was talking about it. We won medals in the pool for the first time in a long time, and there’s a boxing medal coming up tonight.
“This is the most successful Games for Ireland ever. We just won the gold medal in gymnastics, and it’s very cool to see Irish people succeeding on a world stage. You want to be part of that.
“You’re sitting home watching and you want to see the Irish flag go up on the podium and even better if the National Anthem gets played.
“I think you saw it with Scottie (Scheffler) on Sunday, everything he’s won, he’s practically won everything, and how much it meant to him. You saw it with (Novak) Djokovic as well, he’s done everything in tennis and it seemed to mean an awful lot to him.”
Meadow and Maguire arrived early in Paris to soak up the atmosphere and they got a taste of what awaits when they played nine holes after the men’s field had all gone off on Sunday.
“I said it on Saturday and Sunday when I was watching the guys, it was incredible to be in this atmosphere and have those chills and goosebumps,” Meadow said.
“On Sunday I was able to watch from afar 15, 16, 17, 18, watching people chanting Rory, Rory, Rory. That’s pretty awesome.
“And obviously Viktor (Perez) on Sunday, the French, and that’s just something when a country comes together and people can unite like that, it’s really special and I think if you don’t get goosebumps, I wonder, but for me, that’s everything.
“We want that. We don’t want to be out there with ten people watching us and just a small clap. That’s something we dream about. The guys get it more than us but we would obviously want that as well.
“I joked with Leona when we played nine on Sunday there were all those people around 18, and we were like, that’s probably the most people we’ve ever hit a golf shot but nobody was paying attention and maybe we’ll have that. It’s something we all want.
“We’re here for a reason, and we’re good. Like you said, it makes a lot of us play better. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a special opportunity for me.”
Neither Maguire nor Meadow arrives in Paris with stellar form, and they know they face a tough examination on a punishing 6,374-yard course, where the treacherous 18th—a par-four for the men—is a 447-yard par-five for the women this week.
“It’s obviously a phenomenal golf course,” said Maguire, who has had one LET win, a top 12 and three missed cuts in her last eight starts worldwide. “It’s going to be a great test this week. It’s going to really test every, every part of your game.
“And I think whoever comes away with the medals this week is going to have to have played some really great golf, and exactly how it should be for an Olympic Games.”
Maguire is particularly concerned about the bunkers, which she believes lack sand.
“The bunkers are incredibly difficult, especially the greenside bunkers, there’s no sand in them at all,” she said. “They are going to be very penal. I don’t know how the guys managed it. We don’t spin it the way the guys do, and I think the bunkers are going to be extremely tricky.
“I know they are cutting the rough down around the tee shots but it’s very thick around the greens. Especially the front nine it’s very much a premium on hitting fairways and hitting greens.
“You will have plenty of chances if you hit fairways and greens, but at the same time, if you miss a fairway, you’re just going to be pitching out.
“If you miss a green, it’s a flop shot from everywhere. It’s hit it as hard as you can and hope that the ball moves sometimes.
“Both nines are demanding but demanding in different ways, and the greens are firming up quite a bit.
“Even 18 will be a decision downwind whether you can stop the ball on that green depending on what club you’re coming in with.”
Meadow leads off the Irish challenge in the first group of the day with home favourite Perrine Delacour and Belgium’s Manon de Roey at 8 am Irish time.
“I’m very excited,” said Meadow, who says she’s happy with her game even though she has six missed cuts and two tied 53rd finishes in her last eight starts.
“I’m in the first group tomorrow, so I expect the first tee will be quite a lot of fun and probably a memory that will last a lifetime.”
The majors have not been a happy hunting ground for Maguire this year, as she’s missed the cut in three of the four. But she’s ready to give it her all.
“It’s the biggest sporting event in the world,” said the Co Cavan star, who goes off with England’s Georgia Hall and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai in the third last group at 11:17 am Irish time.
“Getting to represent your country is a huge honour. But to do it at the Olympic Games is even more special.”
She added: “It’s hard to compare to a major, and it’s hard to compare to a Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup. I think this week is going to be a very special week either way.
“It’s surreal that it’s the Olympics already. It’s gone by pretty quick.
“Excited to start tomorrow and hoping we can do our best.”
