ARAMCO CHAMPIONSHIP

April 3, 2026

Leona Maguire

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Joined Leona Maguire after round of 71 and currently in third place here at Shadow Creek. Brutal day out there with the wind conditions. Just talk me through it and how you were able to cope.

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, going out I think we knew it was going to be tough. Obviously a lot windier, different wind than we got all week as well, which made some holes play quite a bit longer. We knew we were going to get the firmer end of the greens this afternoon, so just a case of staying extremely patient.

We played here a few years ago when it was stroke play into match play and the conditions were worse. The rough was worse. Wind was worse. So today maybe didn't -- it was bad but didn't feel as bad, so I think that maybe helped as well.

But, yeah, just trying to pick really good targets and executing as well as you can.

Q. You played well here in the match play before. How much is that helping you this week that you know the golf course really well?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I think it helps. The more you play this golf course you know the banks and certain things. It's extremely tough either way. Sometimes you're better off not knowing what some of the holes do.

We were joking on the course there was a couple pins today that we've never seen. We've seen about 20 pins on this golf course and today we saw a few we have never seen before.

It's a fantastic golf course. It's one of the best courses we play all year. I think you could have a major championship here in the morning and no one would think twice about it.

Yeah, like I said, it's one of my favorites of the year. I always enjoy coming here. I was disappointed when the match play wasn't coming back and excited when I heard this was coming.

Q. As a dual member on both the LET and LPGA, how great is this week to have players from both fields and the top players in the world here place?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, it's fantastic. This is a huge event for both tours. Outside of the majors this is one of the biggest there is and a huge opportunity for everyone early in the year to do well, and on one of the best golf courses in the world.

I know a lot of the LET girls were a little intimidated but excited to be here, and same on the LPGA side. We been treated so well. Staying in the Bellagio and playing a golf course like this, we're pretty lucky to get to do what we do.

We were joking on Tuesday night. I went to Cirque du Soleil with my sister and Lindy and Lydia. As stressful as this golf course is, I think being a Cirque du Soleil performer is a lot more stressful, and we decided we would take playing here instead.

Q. Beauty and the Beast question. Given all the golf courses you played all over the world, where does this rank in terms of beauty and picturesque setting, and given the mixture the gusting winds and firm greens, how difficult is this course compared to challenges you faced elsewhere?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I think beauty-wise it's definitely up there. I think I would put this in a similar category with Evian. Evian is nice with Lake Geneva and the mountains in the backdrop, and you've got the mountains here.

I mean, you can't switch off for a second on this golf course. You don't want to get too distracted by all the beauty looking around you.

It's a tough golf course; no question about that. It's as firm as it's been in past years, but the rough is considerably shorter, which makes it definitely easier than what it has been in the match play.

It's not easy by any means, but there is a few different lines off tees and bounces you can have now that ordinarily we have been chips that would've been absolutely goosed are now somewhat manageable.

It's almost bordering on a U.S. Open style setup. You see how few people are under par. It feels a little bit like a major without being a major.

Q. Leona, I know you're one of the more mid-range hitters on Tour as far as length goes. Have you been able to take advantage of the firm, fast conditions?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I mean, I think strategy is massive on this golf course. Really you're really playing chess out there, which is something I enjoy.

When I see a golf course like this I enjoy it more than something like Arizona last week where you just hit it as hard as you possibly can, go find it, and hit it again.

For me, I like a good test. I like these sort of golf courses. Yeah, the ball is going forever but at the same time, something I've been working on this year is getting better ball flight on my irons and approach shots, getting higher apex on them, which is helping a little bit on these greens. I've been able to stop it in places where I haven't before.

Yeah, trying to get the mix of both. The wind today definitely made it play a little bit longer, but balancing that out with the firmer fairways definitely helps.

Q. Hit a couple mid-range wedge shots, couple high, couple little skidders. How do you decide when you're looking at a green out here? Is it based off slope? What are you looking at when you're hitting those low skiddy wedge shots?

LEONA MAGUIRE: I think a lot of it for wedge shots I always flight my wedges, but for the most part it's so gusty out here. There is a lot of crosswinds with the wedges. Yes, you want to get it high enough that it stops, but if it you can get a little bit of spin, great.

Really felt like I took advantage of the par-5s and the short par-4s the last two days pretty well. There is not a ton of birdie opportunities out here, so you really need to take advantage where you can on those holes and take your pars elsewhere.

Q. I know you have your sister out here this week. She doesn't get to travel with you as much as she might've in the past. How fun is it just to have her around and be playing some good golf?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, absolutely. Always fun having her out. She hasn't been out in a while. I think Boston was her last event last year. Somehow I always seem to play a bit better when she is here, but she has a real job back home that keeps her busy.

Yeah, it's great having here her. She's never been to Vegas before so it's been cool to show her around a bit. She's been shocked at some of the things she's seen. Really nice to have her, and just a shame it's only for a week.

Q. How do you throw one up tomorrow and make up some of that ground on the leaderboard?

LEONA MAGUIRE: I think more of the same. See what the conditions are like. Obviously a little firmer conditions probably again; course is drying out.

But, yeah, just trying to -- I don't think you can chase anything on this golf course. Just trying to hit a lot of fairways, greens, and leave yourself in good spots even if that's not on the greens sometimes.

Yeah, just try and sort of chip away at it one by one. If the leaders come back, great. If not, just try and post as good a number as we can.