Leona Maguire insisted she has “a lot of respect” for European skipper Suzann Pettersen after she put “a tough couple of months” behind her and built on her Solheim Cup singles win by opening with a five-under 67 into the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati.
The Co Cavan star confessed on Sunday it was “a bitter pill to swallow” after she was benched by Pettersen for three of the opening four sessions in Europe’s 15½-12½ Solheim Cup defeat in Virginia.
Maguire felt she had “a point to prove” in her 4&3 singles win over Ally Ewing after getting little in the way of explanation from Pettersen for her omissions on Friday and Saturday.
She built on that momentum in Ohio, insisting she had no problem with the captain and was enjoying her golf again after a difficult year that saw her miss three of five cuts in the Majors and fall ill en route to finishing last in the Olympics.
“I finished off, obviously, with a nice run on Sunday last week and it’s been a tough couple of months,” said Maguire, who made an eagle and five birdies to share fourth alongside the likes of world number one Nelly Korda, just two shots behind clubhouse leader Ashleigh Buhai.
“The last few months, haven’t enjoyed my golf as much as I should have, and I think last week was just a reminder of how fun golf can be.
“I love the Solheim, and it’s nice to sort of have something to look forward to every two years and just try to build up the momentum from last week.”
Maguire said on Sunday she got little in the way of an explanation from Pettersen for being left out, adding: “I don’t need any extra motivation to go out and try to win my point, but yeah, there probably was a little bit extra there. I’m not going to lie!”
But the Ballyconnell star denied her opening round in Ohio was another message to Pettersen.
“No, I mean, me and Suzann are on very good terms,” Maguire said. “I have a lot of respect for her. She was a hero of mine growing up, and ultimately, it was her decision.
“Last week, she did what was best for the team, and I’d have been happy to sit out every match if it meant we’d have brought back the trophy last week.
“But I knew my game was in good shape, and showed that in the singles last week, and I’m just trying to finish off the season as strong as I can.”
After playing all five matches and starring for Europe in her first two Solheim Cups, Maguire tweeted, “Form is temporary, class is permanent” after her singles win on Sunday, before adding later, “Win as a team, lose as a team…”
“I’ve been playing really great golf all week in practice, and it was a bitter pill to swallow to be sat out for as many sessions as I was,” she told reporters after being left out on Friday morning and all day on Saturday.
“But I thought I got a point to prove today.
“She [Pettersen] didn’t give much reason, to be honest. The feeling I got was that I was a little bit too short and didn’t make enough birdies, but I think I showed today there’s more than one way to skin a cat, and I think I made plenty of birdies today.
“Captain’s decision. I’m a team player, and all I could do today was come out and win my point, and that’s what I did. It’s a Solheim Cup and I don’t need any extra motivation to go out and try to win my point, but yeah, there probably was a little bit extra there. I’m not going to lie.”