Leona Maguire targets Paris Olympics: 'I'm absolutely pushing for another opportunity to compete'

Leona Maguire has set her sights on a third Olympic Games, saying she is “absolutely pushing for another opportunity to compete and represent my country”.

The Cavan woman previously represented Team Ireland at the Rio Games in 2016, which marked golf’s return to the Olympic roster, and again at the delayed Games in Tokyo in 2021.

“Another appearance at the Olympics is definitely something I'm striving for.

“Representing my country in both Rio and Tokyo were true highlights, and the opportunity to compete alongside the world's best athletes and to represent my country on such a prestigious platform is a dream come true for any athlete.”

In golf’s somewhat confusing qualification system, 60 players will qualify for the Games based on their World Ranking, with limits on the number of golfers who can qualify from each country.

But to the point, both Maguire and Stephanie Meadow are currently on track to make it to Paris this summer, sitting at 21st and 33rd in the Olympic Golf Rankings.

“The atmosphere and energy surrounding the Olympics are unlike anything else in sports,” Maguire recalls.

“The Olympics hold a special place in the hearts of athletes, and I would be honored to have the chance to once again be part of this prestigious event.”

But the 29-year-old isn’t sitting idle while she waits for that call to come, as she’s already seven events into this year’s LPGA Tour.

Thirty-three official and three unofficial events are on this year’s Tour calendar. Having begun in Florida at the end of January, the schedule is taking the golfers across North America, Asia and Europe, ending up back in Florida for the final event at the end of November.

It’s a gruelling schedule, but while Maguire admits it can be challenging to