LEONA MAGUIRE’S HOPES of conjuring a Major challenge evaporated on the opening day of the KPMG PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, as the Cavan native struggled to a six-over-par first round.
Maguire, playing in the third Major of the year on a sponsor’s invite, was unable to continue her recent form and never recovered from a slow start, carding six bogeys to sign for a 78.
The 24-year-old, who has won twice on the Symetra Tour this season, dropped five shots on the front nine and although she steadied the ship around the turn, has left herself with a lot of work to do to make the weekend’s action.
The early lead is held by Hyo Joo Kim of Korea, who carded a three-under-par round of 69 on Thursday, with Annie Park and Lydia Ko among those a shot further behind.
Rio Olympian Stephanie Meadow, playing in her first Major since 2017, gets her first round underway shortly.
Meanwhile, Pádraig Harrington has put himself in a strong position to make his first cut in three PGA Tour events after enjoying a solid opening round at the Travelers Championship.
Harrington, the European Ryder Cup captain, carded three birdies and a bogey en route to a two-under-par round on Thursday at TPC River Highlands, where Americans Ryan Armour and Bronson Burgoon hold the early lead on six-under.
Waterford native Seamus Power was among the later starters and is one-under through nine.
Elsewhere, Gavin Moynihan hit the right gear at the BMW International Open in Germany today, signing for a two-under 70 to sit four shots off the summit.
Moynihan’s two birdies were countered by two bogeys, but the highlight of his weather-disrupted round was on the 18th — his ninth hole — when he carded an eagle three.
Paul Dunne, meanwhile, will start his second round in a battle to make the cut after a 74 earlier.
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