Leona Maguire sounds off on European Captain Suzann Pettersen for overlooking her for most of the Solheim Cup

Leona Maguire expressed her disappointment with European team captain Suzann Pettersen's decision to allow her to play only one match ahead of the Sunday singles at the 2024 Solheim Cup. She only played in the Friday fourball match against Nelly Korda and Megan Khang and then in the Sunday singles.

The Irish golfer lost the foursome match by 6&4 but was impressive in the final, winning against Ally Ewing by 4&3. Following the completion of the Solheim Cup, Maguire opened up about her performance and the captain's decision, as she did not get a chance to play on Saturday.

The two-time LPGA Tour opened up about her singles game and said (via NuclrGolf):

"I felt like I played great golf today… I feel like 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, but I thought I got a point to prove today, and I love the Solheim Cup… "

Moreover, Maguire voiced her disagreement with the captain's decision and said:

"She 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 proved 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.”

Leona Maguire holds an impressive record at the Solheim Cup. She has played in the competition twice, in 2021 and 2023, and both times the European team clinched the trophy.

Maguire qualified for the tournament through the Rolex Women's Golf Rankings after her phenomenal 2024 season. She won one event on the LET at the Aramco Team Series in London and secured one top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour in 2024. Moreover, this year she also represented her country at the Paris Olympics.

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"It's always hard to sit great players"- Suzann Pettersen addresses Leona Maguire's limited matches at the Solheim Cup 2024

During a press conference for the 2024 Solheim Cup on September 14, ahead of the Sunday finals, a reporter questioned Suzann Pettersen about the "tough decision" to allow Leona Maguire to play only one match. In response, the European team captain said (via ASAP Sports):

"It's always hard to sit great, great players, but where we sit we have to play the ones that are really playing well this week. I mean, Leona, she's going to be 100% tomorrow and she's all about the team, so I mean, she's a great teammate. Understands and she's allowed to be disappointed. At the same time she has to believe in what the team is doing, and she'll going to be out here showing her face."

The 2024 Solheim Cup concluded on Sunday, September 15, with the European team performing well in the Sunday finals, winning five matches and three resulting in ties. However, the USA team extended their lead even in the final leg of the event and won the Cup by 15½ to 12½.