AIG Women's Open: Maguire Battles Winds to Remain in Contention

Strategic Insights -

LEONA Maguire has overcome a marathon six-and-a-half-hour round and high winds to keep leader Charley Hull in her sights at the AIG Women's Open at St Andrews. Maguire, from Co Cavan, carded a gritty 73 to stay tied for 32nd on one-over, despite battling back from two opening bogeys and a wait of an hour on the par-three 11th. Hull, meanwhile, fired six birdies in a five-under 67 to lead by a shot from Yin Ruoning of China and world number one Nelly Korda.

Key Takeaways:

  • Maguire's 73 was a solid round in extremely tough conditions, with winds gusting at 40 mph.
  • She birdied the fourth from 15 feet and then followed a bogey at the 10th with a birdie at the 14th, where her third shot came up short of dropping into the hole for an eagle three.
  • The painful pace of play was highlighted, with some groups taking over two hours to get through the first four holes.
  • Lauren Walsh, from Castlewarden, started on the back nine in the final group and took nearly two hours to get through the first four holes, but birdied at the fifth and eighth to card a three-over 75.
  • Stephanie Meadow finished with nine pars on the front nine for a 77, leaving her joint 98th.
  • On the DP World Tour, Gary Hurley and Tom McKibbin had a frustrating day in the Danish Golf Championship at Lubker Golf Resort, with Hurley turning in three-under but signing for a one-over 72, and McKibbin making six bogeys in a 74.
  • Jonathan Caldwell shot a four-under 67 to share fourth place in the Indoor Golf Group Challenge in Sweden, missing out on the lead by just two shots.

Statistics:

  • Maguire's 73 left her tied for 32nd on one-over.
  • Hull fired six birdies in a five-under 67.
  • The winds gusting at 40 mph were particularly challenging for the players.
  • The pace of play was slow, with some groups taking over two hours to get through the first four holes.
  • Lauren Walsh took nearly two hours to get through the first four holes, but birdied at the fifth and eighth to card a three-over 75.
  • Stephanie Meadow finished with nine pars on the front nine for a 77.
  • Gary Hurley turned in three-under but signed for a one-over 72, and Tom McKibbin made six bogeys in a 74.

Sources:

  • "LEONA Maguire overcame high winds and a marathon six-and-a-half-hour round to keep leader Charley Hull in her sights in the AIG Women's Open at St Andrews." - The exact quote from the original text.
  • The exact quote from Charley Hull, "Yeah, I thought it was a very solid round." - The exact quote from the original text.
  • "Gary Hurley and Tom McKibbin had a frustrating day in the Danish Golf Championship at Lubker Golf Resort..." - The exact sentence from the original text.
  • "Jonathan Caldwell shot a four-under 67 to share fourth place in the Indoor Golf Group Challenge in Sweden..." - The exact sentence from the original text.