Leona looks to solve puzzle in US Women's Open
Leona Maguire plays a shot on the 18th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally at Erin Hills Golf Course in Hartford, Wis. on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Logan Whitton/USGA)
Leona Maguire could do with a “hot” driver in this week’s US Women’s Open at big-hitter’s paradise Erin Hills.
However, she believes that great short game skills and savvy course management can still help her contend at a venue where USGA Chief Executive Mike Whan yesterday defended the driver testing process that became a major talking point at the recent PGA.
A report that Rory McIlroy’s driver was deemed non-conforming was not confirmed by the player or officials, but mere mention of his name led to massive coverage of a routine procedure.
Eventual winner Scottie Scheffler, who confessed afterwards that he was one of the players who had to replace a non-conforming driver at Quail Hollow, called for more “robust” testing.
But a claim by former US Open champion Lucas Glover that some players are effectively cheating by submitting their backup drivers in these tests rather than their first-choice clubs means the issue remains a hot topic.
"I've been trying to think all morning and all day how to say this without sounding like it's going to sound," Glover told SiriusXM on Monday.
“But most guys don't give them their real driver anyway. They give them their backup just in case. No, it’s true.
"And the testing is the way it is, why, and again, I know a lot of guys, they keep two drivers in their bag just in case.”
Whan said the USGA had no concerns about players fudging the rules and that the only unusual thing at the PGA was the excessive coverage — provoked by the leaking of McIlroy’s name.
"90 per cent of the drivers that were given to us in those practice facilities… are played on the first tee, and we expect 10 per cent of players to be making changes anyway," Whan said. "I don't think that’s a real concern for us.”
McIlroy is skipping the Memorial Tournament this week, where Shane Lowry will be trying to prevent Scheffler from retaining the title.
But it’s not just driving distance but pulling all elements of her game together that’s the big concern for Maguire, who has plummeted from 31st to 80th in the world over the past 12 months.
“I just haven't quite got all the pieces together and on the same week yet,” Maguire said. “Some good improvements off the tee. Some weeks I’ve putted well, some weeks I haven't.
"And then my approach play just needs to tidy up a bit. So I’m just trying to get all the pieces of the jigsaw together on the same week. It'd be nice to do it this week.”
She will need her A game at 6,829-yard Erin Hills.
“I think the long hitters are going to have an advantage,” Maguire said. “But around the greens is so tricky.
"Precision is also going to be very important. Miss a green by a foot, and you could be 70 yards away with some of the runoffs.
"A lot of it is more to do with the bogeys you don't make, rather than the birdies you do. Nobody's been making a ton of birdies out there, so it's just being very, very patient and very disciplined.”
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