SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ACER

October 1, 2021

Leona Maguire

Seaview, A Dolce Hotel

Quick Quotes

Q. Leona, that seemed like a pretty good round in a welcome back to the LPGA Tour. Tell us about your round today.

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, got off to a little bit of a slow start. Made a few good pars opening few holes and was a little bit of rust there. But made a nice birdie on 18, and that got the round going.

Yeah, nice back nine to finish, two birdies to finish, so good momentum heading into tomorrow.

Q. Tell us about your closing birdies there.

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, hit a really nice shot into 3. Nearly made eagle on 3 and then hit a really nice shot into 4, so two good birdies back to back.

Then same on 8 and 9 really. Made a nice shot into 8 and holed a good putt, and 9 was just off the green and two-putt.

Q. It's been a crazy couple weeks for you, the Solheim Cup and this is your first time back. Tell us about everything that happened back home in Ireland, the parade, the TV, everything. Seemed like a lot fun.

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, it was incredible the support at home. Wasn't expecting anything like that. It seemed like the entire country was watching the Solheim Cup. Great for me to see people excited about golf, women's golf.

Hopefully I can give them something to cheer about for the rest of the year.

Q. Are you still riding that high or do you try to compartmentalize that?

LEONA MAGUIRE: No, I think once the first tee shot today you kind of had to put it in the back of your head. Obviously taking the confidence from that week and knowing I can compete against the best players in the world, and, yeah, knowing that I can hole those putts and hit those shots when I need to.

So take that with me, and ultimately back it's back to business this week. Trying to make as many birdies as possible on this golf course, and, yeah, finish as high up as I can this week.

Q. You're right up there toward the top of the leaderboard. What are your thoughts on this golf course? It's one the shorter courses we play right here.

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, it's been interesting. It's getting firm. I've put on a little bit of yardage from last year, so there are a few holes that were drivers last year that aren't drivers this year, so had to figure that out. Slightly different lines off tees.

You have to think your way around, which I like. If the golf course keeps getting firm it's going to be very much tough for the next two days, and hopefully we get a little bit of wind and might feel right at home, sort of Irish weather.