Big reunions key for Lowry and Maguire

Shane Lowry was delighted to get his clubs back

Shane Lowry was reunited with his clubs in the US, but Leona Maguire’s reunion with caddie Dermot Byrne is a boost for her ahead of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield.

The Co Cavan star is seeking her maiden Major win and a winner’s cheque for just over €1 million at a historic venue that admitted its first women members in 2019.

Maguire won her first LPGA Tour title in February before making the cut in the first four Majors of the year, with her best finish a tie for eighth in the US Women’s Open.

She was tied 13th at Carnoustie last year and with Byrne back on her bag after a break, their combined links experience will be vital to avoiding the bunkers as the field chases a €7.19m purse.

The world number 22 is paired with betting favourite Lydia Ko and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and her trademark grit and links nous should give her a chance at the weekend, providing the putts drop.

Maguire skipped last week’s Scottish Open to practice at Portmarnock and Portmarnock Links, but Stephanie Meadow will be keen to build on her top 40 finish at Dundonald Links.

Meanwhile, Lowry was so thrilled to get his missing clubs and luggage in time for the Wyndham Championship yesterday he tweeted a picture of himself raising his golf bag over his head, weightlifter style.

He’s the only Irishman in the field for the final regular season event before next week’s FedEx Cup Playoffs and he finds himself one spot higher in the standings at 28th (with absentee Seamus Power 25th) after the PGA Tour removed the LIV rebels from the standings.

The reaction from LIV was swift with the suspended Phil Mickelson and 10 others suing the PGA Tour as an illegal monopoly that’s harming their careers.

Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones are seeking a temporary restraining order so they can play in the Playoffs while their appeals are pending.

Meanwhile, former Ryder Cup skipper Davis Love believes PGA Tour players could take the “nuclear option” of boycotting events if the rebels successfully challenge their suspensions.

Niall Kearney, Paul Dunne, Jonny Caldwell and Cormac Sharvin play the Cazoo Open at Celtic Manor as Conor Purcell, Gary Hurley, Rowan Lester, Ronan Mullarney, John Murphy, James Sugrue, Paul McBride, Gavin Moynihan and Robin Dawson play the Finnish Challenge.

Ireland beat Scotland 14.5-6.5 in the Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals at Ballyliffin and 12-9 in the Boys’ and Girls’ equivalent at Downfield.