Leona Maguire storms home to make cut at Chevron: “Sometimes you just need a little spark... I never give up”
Leona Maguire
Leona Maguire’s never-say-die attitude was key after she produced a sensational back-nine comeback to move inside the cut line and keep her Major hopes alive in the Chevron Championship in Texas last night.
Tied for 98th overnight after opening with a four-over 76 in the first women’s Major of the season, the Co Cavan battler (28) stormed home in four-under 32 to card a second-round 69 and sit inside the top 70 and ties on one-over par at The Club at Carlton Woods.
The world number 15 looked in big trouble when she followed an early birdie at the 13th (her fourth) with back-to-back bogeys at the 14th and 15th.
At five-over-par, she was tied for 112th with eight holes to play but fought back brilliantly with birdies at the third, fourth, sixth and eighth.
Leona Maguire speaks to Juan Luis Guillen after her second round 69 at the Chevron Championship
“I mean yesterday was a bit of a struggle,” Leona said after a two-hour delay to her second-round tee time due to heavy overnight rain.
“Finished badly, which was kind of frustrating, so I did have a bit of a hole to dig myself out of today, but I was really patient, which you have to do in majors.
“I holed a big putt across the green on three for birdie and sometimes all you need - a little spark.
“Momentum went the other way and I played very nicely on the back nine and picked up a few birdies and hopefully got some good momentum going into the weekend.”
She was up to tied 58th as the later starters tackled the course, but while the cut not set to be made until Saturday due to the delayed start, she was thrilled to make the weekend and keep her chances alive.
“I mean, it's a major; you never know what happens,” she said after a round played with preferred lies. “You're just trying to get to the weekend and try and give yourself a chance.
“It's all pretty bunched right now. It doesn't take much to move up the leaderboard. I never give up in general. So you have to always just keep trying, no matter how far away it is.
“Dermot kept me going and kept me positive out there as well, which always helps. I just tried to give myself chances. And thankfully, I took them.”
Stephanie Meadow was among the later starters on five-over after an opening 77, leaving her needing to match Maguire to make the cut
Maguire was eight shots behind American Liliana Vu, who shot 69 to lead by a shot in the clubhouse on seven-under-par from Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, who shot 67, and Nelly Korda, who shot 70.
