Advertisement
Ireland's Leona Maguire (file pic). Alamy Stock Photo

'Hit it close and let Leona putt' - Maguire and Glover make blistering start in Florida

The Cavanwoman and the 2009 US Open champion opened with 10 consecutive birdies and sit a shot behind Nelly Korda and Tony Finau.

IRELAND’S LEONA MAGUIRE and former men’s US Open champion Lucas Glover are a shot off the lead at the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples, Florida, after a sensational start in which they made 10 consecutive birdies.

Maguire, 29, and Glover, 44, finished with a 15-under-par 57 to sit a stroke shy of American duo Nelly Korda and Tony Finau at Tiburon Golf Club.

Maguire and her playing partner are tied for second after the first round of the co-sanctioned event in which 16 LPGA and 16 PGA Tour players compete together for a top prize of $1 million.

Asked by NBC what their tactics were ahead of a sensational start in which they back-to-back birdied all the way to the 11th, Glover replied: “Hit it close and let Leona putt”.

“I got told earlier in the week just to let her putt first, stay out of her way, and I probably won’t have to putt much,” Glover added. “I listened to some sage advice. They were right.”

Maguire said of Glover: “He’s been great. He’s been a gent all week and it’s been a pleasure to be in his company.

“Any time you get to play with a major champion, you’re pretty lucky. He had some really nice approach shots today and I tried to take a little bit of pressure off him with the putter.”

“I’m going to be playing out of the fairway a lot tomorrow,” Glover smiled. “Like, every hole.

“Hopefully she is too.”

Author
Gavan Casey
View comments
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel