‘Dreamt about this for a long time... we’re only getting started’

Special feature

When Leona Maguire is interviewed, there are a couple of things she always makes sure to name-check. One is the young fans watching at home; there are not many international sports star with such global reach who are so genuinely interested in inspiring the next generation in a positive way.

And the other? Her family back home, or sometimes, by her side. For Leona Maguire, family is at the heart of it all.

Leona took up the game as a 10-year-old and travelled all over as an amateur with her twin sister Lisa, herself a world class player. Dad Declan and Mam Breda were there along with younger brother Odhran, himself no mean golfer, as often as possible, too.

On Sunday, the coverage was wall to wall. Every media outlet wanted a piece of the Irish star who had, once again, created history. Yet in the midst of the madness, the Ballyconnell woman remained calm and her comments in interviews were instructive.

“There were no leaderboards out there all day and I didn’t look at a leaderboard all day,” she said.

“I had no idea what was happening until the 18th fairway. Just tried to hit each shot as it came.

“You say you want to enjoy it but it’s hard until that sort of final putt drops and you know it’s for sure. You also worry about maybe the leaderboard being wrong or something like that, so you try not to do any of the maths in your head or anything like that.

“It’s my Mom’s birthday tomorrow so I guess this is a pretty good present for her. I’m not going to be home for it, but yeah, hopefully she’ll get to celebrate this next week when I’m home. That’ll be special.

“My hometown has been an incredible supporter of me. Obviously, you saw the scenes after the Solheim Cup. I don’t think they’ll be acting like that maybe again this time. I don’t think the weather in Ireland is quite right for riding around in a convertible as it was in September.

“Being from Ireland, a small town, I am lucky to have the support I have. I think my Solheim Cup teammates were a little jealous that I got a reception that they didn’t maybe get.

“It’s incredible to be the first Irish person and to show that it is possible for a girl from a small little town in Ireland to be able to compete against the best players in the world and win on the LPGA.”

Truly, here was a sporting megastar with her feet firmly on the ground. Based in Florida, Leona’s immediate future may be in the United States but she returns to Ballyconnell as often as her schedule allows. There is no danger of her losing touch with her family and friends back home.

The homecoming last September, after she almost single-handedly toppled the Americans in the Solheim Cup, will never be forgotten but, when the story comes to be written, that will likely be viewed as just the start of an extraordinary journey in the professional ranks.

In a honest and engaging interview with Off The Ball on Monday morning, Declan Maguire gave some insight into his daughter’s laser-like focus.

“She raised that hand at the end, it might be the first win but Leona is already looking to get the first win behind it to back it up. She’s not going to rest on any laurels. She will celebrate, she’ll enjoy herself but she wants now to back that up,” he commented.

“When she gets home next week, she’ll be back with Shane, back with Joe, back with the whole team around her, back in the Sports Institute and she’ll be looking to get to the next level, the next branch of the tree.”

Asked about how she has put herself out there as a role model for young females in sport and her many references to young children following in her footsteps, Declan revealed again how grounded she is. Both Leona and Lisa’s stellar amateur careers did not come easy; many years of hard work and expense went into them and they couldn’t have done it on their own.

“She’s comfortable with that because she knows herself, she got a lot of help along the way. I remember the time the Darren Clarke Foundation brought Lisa and herself up for weekends, Odhran as well, anyone who had won tournaments or was doing well in junior golf, Darren brought them up and they were treated like pros for the weekend, got the latest equipment…

“I think Leona has led on from that, she hopes to be giving something back because that’s what it’s all about, developing the game, encouraging other young golfers and young people to have an interest in sport and particularly girls because, especially in the teenage years, more girls tend to drop out.

“Whereas Leona’s view is, you couldn’t be doing anything better, being out on a golf course or if you’re into running, being out on a running track or playing ladies football or whatever it might be. Anything that she can do to help that, she will do that.”

Probably the most remarkable thing about the unfolding Leona Maguire story is that no goal seems unattainable. For a kid from west Cavan to make it to the top level in a sport as competitive as golf would be a monumental achievement in itself but Leona’s dominance at every level – junior, amateur, collegiate, Solheim – suggests that she will not stop until she has reached the number one ranking and claimed a Major title.

“If you don’t dream big, you’re never going to get there,” Declan said.

“As Bill Belichick used to say, talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling. There are probably a lot more talented golfers who have been around than Leona but anything she lacks in talent, she makes up for in character because she will give it every last drop she has to achieve what she wants to achieve.

“She is very driven, she’s very focused, she’ll leave no stone unturned. She will take whatever advice is going and she’s got a lot of good advice. She had an hour Zoom call with Paul McGinley over Christmas, he has been a great mentor over the last couple of years since she turned pro and as she turned pro.

“People like that have given a lot to her and, likewise, she has no problem giving back and encouraging other people to maybe some day match her or maybe even be better than her.”

What advice had McGinley imparted?

“The biggest message that Paul put across to her is that there’s no magic formula. It’s simple things, done well. If you’re making changes, small changes. Don’t be too drastic. Look for the small areas where you can improve. Stick with what you know and what you do well.

“Improve your strengths and look at your weaknesses and improve every aspect of your game and not be thinking you’re going to get massive changes. There’s no point Leona going out on the golf course and thinking she is going to out-drive Nelly Korda today or tomorrow, it’s not going to happen. It’s a slow process.

“I think Leona is one of those characters who works on pressure. I’ve always said that Leona is always at her best when she’s in the mix in the last round. If she is in the mix at that stage, whatever it is, she just seems to go into a different zone at that stage, she never backs off. She won’t back off from anything.

“I’d never fear for Leona in that situation. In the Solheim Cup, she loved that. On the last day, she was hoping she was going to get Nelly Korda. She wasn’t looking for an easy match, when she’s in that situation she wants to play the best. She’s not going to say she will always beat the best…”

The Maguires were renowned as prodigies from an early age and, rather than shy away from it, they embraced the expectation and took on whatever challenges presented themselves, not in an ostentatious or flashy way but with a deep-seated determination to be the best they could.

As 12-year-olds, they were entered in the Irish strokeplay, generally the reserve of the best adults on the island. Eyebrows were raised but it was all part of a plan.

“I’d say a lot of people wondered what the mentality was, entering the Irish stroke play at 12, and why were we even there. I suppose the mentality was, this is the best that’s in Ireland at the moment, we’re going to see what the best is and from there we can work a plan.

“And I think that’s what we always tried to do, look at who’s the best and then match yourself against them.”

Leona’s comment after her winning round that the victory was “17 years in the making” told its own story. At first, their story was a mild curiosity, two female twins with an amazing aptitude for a very difficult sport, which had something of a staid reputation but was, on the back of the Tiger Woods era and the breakthrough Irish male professionals, beginning to become cool.

After a while, it seemed Leona and Lisa were truly the real deal. Then, Duke University came calling and Leona strode on, grabbing the collegiate and amateur scene and refusing to let go.

But success as a professional came more slowly. Leona took her time turning pro, completing her studies, and first competed on the second-tier Symetra tour. Covid came along and probably delayed her ascension to the elite through no fault of her own but she did enough to earn a wild card pick for the Solheim and, once there, turned it into a coronation.

“The Solheim Cup probably gave her that self-belief that she could compete with any of them,” said Declan.

“But then, we talked the other night after it, this one, she had to do it on her own. My little bit of fear from a parent’s point of view is that lots of teams, lots of individuals get to a stage where you have a chance to win and for one reason or another – a bit of bad luck or maybe a wrong decision or whatever – you just don’t get it across the line. If that sets in, it can have a lasting effect, it’s always there in the back of your mind.

“I think the earlier you can overcome that hurdle, the better chance you have of going on then. I think that’s what the weekend will do for Leona.

“She knows herself it’s only one tournament, it’s early in the year. She wouldn’t have been thinking she would peak this early in the year so hopefully there is a lot more to come.”

When Leona is playing, Declan tends to be too nervous to watch. Breda follows all the coverage; Declan prefers to watch it back later, or maybe catch the end of an event and chat to Leona about it afterwards.

What helps is that both know she is surrounded by an excellent support team, principally Lisa.

“Lisa has been terrific for Leona. It was a brilliant decision by Modest! to keep Lisa involved, when it comes to making decisions, Lisa is there and Lisa puts Leona’s interests first. To have someone there that has played at that level as well...

“At the end of the day, as an amateur, Lisa was probably just as good as what was around, she has been there and done it and has chosen a different route now. Leona couldn’t have better than Lisa there.

“And, on top of that, Dermot Byrne who came on the bag last year. When Dermot became available it was a no-brainer, he has been a big, big plus.

“When Altomae had those run of birdies at the beginning, Dermot was ultra-calm, ‘stay patient, stay patient, your chance is going to come, keep waiting’.

“I think that gave Leona confidence, she knows if Dermot says something, he’s not just saying it for the sake of it, he knows what he’s talking about and he’s been there and done it.

“And again, Paul McGinley I think had an influence too on Dermot coming on the bag and that’s been a great plus as well.”

Despite a packed sporting schedule over the weekend, Leona led the sports bulletins on Sunday and Monday. The water cooler discussions mainly centred around the Cavan star. Her father is well aware of the impact her success has had.

“People have had a tough two years. My sister had a serious operation before Christmas, I went to visit her yesterday and it’s amazing the lift that it gave to Kitty and family as well, to distract from the health problems she has had or whatever.

“It gives a lift to people when something like this happens. It was a great weekend of sport and we are very, very lucky to have that, especially at this time of the year when everything is dreary, the weather is not so good. It just gives everybody a lift and long may it continue.”

For Leona, the road ahead appears to have no bends. She has aced every exam to date and will gate-crash the top 20 in the world when the new rankings are confirmed.

On Sunday morning, she posted a photo online and the words she chose to accompany it summed it all up. Having fronted the 20x20 campaign, which aimed to increase media coverage of women’s sport, she is well used to the slogan, “Can’t see, can’t be”. This time, she had her own twist on it.

“Dreamt about this moment for a long time and we’re only getting started,” she typed. “Couldn’t have done it without the help of my incredible team and family. Can see, can be.”

The floor is now set - at 27, she is already an all-time great of Irish sport. The ceiling? The stars.