Leona Maguire rediscovers form to make bright start at PGA Championship
Leona Maguire rediscovered some form at an opportune time as a first-round 72 left her inside the top 20 at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
With the second wave still on course last night in the third major of the season, Maguire's even-par round left her four shots behind pace-setter Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand.
South Africa's Paula Reto had also made a blistering start and was three-under after five holes on a tricky course, a score shared by Australia's Minjee Lee after she bogeyed the last denying her a share of the clubhouse lead.
Cavan's Maguire has been struggling as of late, four missed cuts in succession seeing her drop to 87th in the world rankings, so this was just the tonic.
Maguire played her first nine holes in one over-par with her sole bogey coming at the 454-yard par-four fifth.
A beautifully read putt for birdie on the 11th got her back level before another birdie at the 14th, following a fine approach to inside six foot, saw her under-par for her round.
She did let a shot go at 16 as a putt raced by, but overall it was a productive start for Maguire.
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