THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 10, 2025

Leona Maguire

Evian Resort Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Leona Maguire after the first round to the Amundi Evian Championship. Just an awesome round today. What stuck out for you, especially the hole-in-one?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Just played really nice. Hit a lot of fairways. Hit a lot of greens. Gave myself some really good chances sort of 11, 12, 13 to start the day.

Yeah, pretty stress-free as it can be around here.

Obviously the hole-in-one on 2 was pretty special. I think my first one on the LPGA, so a nice place to do it.

Q. That was going to be my next question. Could you describe the shot? What went into the shot process beforehand and seeing it go in?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, it was just taking a little bit off an 8-iron for me. Looked good in the air. You're never sure on that hole until the ball actually lands. Sort of a perfect morning for it. Not much wind which is nice, especially on that tee box.

Yeah, pretty good highlight to the day.

Q. We talked a little bit about the difference with that hole is the severe drop. How far is the drop and like what went into your club choice, too?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, the pin was sort of in this little back right bowl. You don't want to go over, but at the same time, it does land pretty soft hitting from like 30 yards down from there.

So yeah, overall it was just a really nice shot. Looked good all the way. Then nice to be able to walk down this hill without a putter in your hand.

Q. Another hole-in-one too towards the CME Cares Challenge as well. Money will be donated to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. What does that mean to you to contribute to that cause?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, my first contribution to it. Yeah, it's a fantastic cause. Anything we can do to help all the sick kids and their families makes it even better.

Q. To get off to this kind of fast start in a major, this venue hits kind of tricky. How validating is that kind of round?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I always like it here. I think you have to be very patient, very accepting. You know you're not going to get a flat lie out there. You'll get some iffy bounces.

Did a really good job staying patient. I mean, finished on a -- hit what I thought was a perfect tee shot down 6 and ended up in a divot. You have to accept things like that.

My hybrids were nicely dialed in today and that always helps. Yeah, I mean, like I said, it was pretty much perfect conditions this morning. Nice to take advantage.

Q. How have you learned to play on this kind of slopey, undulating golf course?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I think you need a little bit of creativity, shaping shots different ways. I think patience and acceptance, which is important in any major, but I think here tests you even more.

We had really tough conditions at the Irish Open in the wind and stuff last week, so it was a nice break from that to have a pretty flat, calm morning this morning. So just enjoying that.

Q. Do you think being a links player helps that creativity at all, gives you an advantage?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, maybe. I like to shape the shots off the slopes. I think as we were getting to the end of last week at the Irish Open we were paying attention to knowing what was coming up here. I think this is my sixth year here, so you know what to expect every year here.

Yeah, I think that's something you just have to know coming here. You know you're going to have to work the ball a little bit. You can use the slopes or fight against them. Yeah, for the most part did a really good job today.

Q. How do you build on this?

LEONA MAGUIRE: I think more of the same. There is obviously going to be some low numbers out there today. See where it is at the end of the day.

Three more days of trying to hit -- I mean, the rough is thick in spots so you really have to hit the fairways to have that control into the green.

But the greens are softer than we have had in past years. The fairways you can give yourself some pretty good opportunities. I feel like I left a few out there today. Would've been nice to hole a few more putts, so work on that that afternoon.

And then it was an early start this morning. It was half four alarm, so maybe a little nap and we'll get ready to go again.

Q. I had just a couple more sent in. This is your sixth time playing here. How does it compare to other majors?

LEONA MAGUIRE: It's a very different test. I think it's nice that we come back every year so there is that sense of familiarity. I think with Irish Open last week and everything being so busy, this is week five in a row for me, so it was nice knowing what I was coming to and sort of no panic trying to play a lot of practice rounds.

I played four holes Monday, nine Tuesday and nine yesterday. It was also my first not being in the pro-am in a about four, five years, so that was also a nice break.

So also not a panic I guess as much of a scramble to try and get as much in as you possibly can Monday through Wednesday.

So it was nice to be quite fresh this morning almost. It's a bit softer this year I would say than past years, but that leaves the rough quite lush.

Q. You've had a very low round here before, 61. What stands out from that round? What do you remember most from that round?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Gave myself a lot of chances obviously. You have to take advantage of the par-5s.

We had 7 moved up today, so it was nice to take advantage of that, and nice birdie on 18, too.

Just trying to give yourself as many chances as you can. The greens are rolling well, so you obviously need to hole a few putts to shoot a low number like that.

Q. Last one: Like you mentioned, you're coming from the Women's Irish Open. How busy is that week for you obviously, and what's it like to come here after that as well?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, it's fantastic to play at home. The home support was incredible last week. A lot of people out there to brave the wind and the rain and all of that.

That's almost like a mini major to me, so it's very good preparation, the whole sort of environment of that, the intensity of that.

And then it almost seems like a little mini break to come here. So it's nice to have, yeah, a bit of a quieter week this week being a major, but it's one of my favorite stops on Tour. I really like coming here. Yeah, looking forward to three more days.