It was not a question of if, but when Leona Maguire would become a professional golfer. She first performed on the Ladies European Tour half of her life, at the age of 12, at the Northern Ireland Open 2007 with her twin sister, Lisa.

Leona Maguire - Photo: DR

Now 24, with a psychology degree from Duke University, the Irishman finished fifth in the traveling school and is competing this week in her first round as a Rookie Professional at the Pacific Bay Resort Australian Ladies Classic - Bonville.

This is his first trip to Australia and it is already familiar to him. She said of Bonville Golf Resort: “The course is quite nice and looks like the one in North Carolina, where I spent four years at the university, surrounded by pine forests. The wind could be delicate around the trees, but it is very pleasant. The course is in good condition. "

Maguire feels ready to start his LET season. " I can not wait to be there. It's good to start the year somewhere warm and nice and I'm lucky to have a good enough category to participate in as many events as I want which is good to start the year. I can't wait to see a lot of faces that I haven't seen in a while, juniors and amateurs alike, ” she says.

His first-time caddy John Mulroney, who worked for Darren Clarke when he won The Open, will be a new face on the scene. Otherwise, nothing has changed since she finished fifth at Tour School at the end of the year.

“I spent three or four weeks at home for Christmas and stopped in Dubai on my way here. It's the shortest offseason I've had so I haven't changed much. I am satisfied with the situation and I can not wait to start ”, underlined Leona Maguire.

“Technically, I'm a rookie, but I don't feel like one. I will learn to do the reconnaissance of golf courses and how the life of a pro works as I progress. The Irish Opens and the majors I've played in will help me along the way. "

Maguire will begin her rookie season on Thursday, when she will play with Whitney Hillier and Jenny Haglund at 8 a.m.