Leona Maguire makes fast start to new season in Thailand
Leona Maguire. Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Leona Maguire got her 2026 season off to a brilliant start when she opened with a five-under 67 in the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club.
The Co Cavan star birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th to move swiftly to three under and while she dropped a shot at the par-three 16th, she birdied the 18th to turn in 33 before picking up further shots at the first and ninth.
The Solheim Cup star missed just one fairway and only four greens in a 27-putt round to end the opening day tied for sixth place.
She was just two strokes behind Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen, who carded seven-under 65s to lead by one stroke from Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and South Korea’s Somi Lee and Hye-Jin Choi.
“I think I hit my tee shots and iron shots pretty well today, and that's why I was able to make so many birdie chances today,” Hataoka said. “So today was a good start.
“My short putts and middle putts, I’m still working on my speed and direction, so a little bit still ugly still.”
The steamy temperatures did not bother home player Wannasaen, who made nine birdies in her 65.
“I just three-putted a couple of holes,” she said. “It's actually not bad because I made quite long putts on a couple of holes too.”
Dryburgh eagled the first and birdied her next three holes to go five under and she’s prepared for what is traditionally a low-scoring week despite having to leave her newborn baby at home for a three-event Asian swing.
“Got off to a hot start, which is obviously nice,” the Scot said. “Nice to start off the year with an eagle. Pitched in from 79 yards, so pretty nice way to start the week.”
Dryburgh (32) gave birth to her first child around Christmas and admits it was difficult to leave her baby, Leo, and her partner, Anne-Lise Bidou, behind.
“Yeah, it's honestly been a big adjustment, but all for the better,” she said. “It's been seven weeks now, so it was tough to leave them.
“I'm away for three weeks now, so going to miss him a lot. Seeing him on FaceTime and stuff, so, yeah, miss him a lot.
“It's been different offseason obviously, kind of juggling the parent life and new lifestyle, but it's been great.”
England’s Lottie Woad, who claimed the KMPG Women’s Irish Open and finished third in the Evian Championship as an amateur before winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open on her professional debut last year, was 44th after taking 33 putts in a first-round 71.
