Irish trio chasing major dream at US Open

A trio of Irish major hopefuls tee off at Lancaster Country Club on Thursday as they attempt not only to take on the US Women’s Open course but also the seemingly unstoppable Nelly Korda.

Leona Maguire, Stephanie Meadow and amateur Aine Donegan will all be in action in Pennsylvania, but unsurprisingly all eyes will be on Korda, initially at least anyway.

Korda is a massive favourite to secure her third major title after winning six of her last seven events.

The world number one has beaten a combined total of 883 players in that stretch, losing to just six by finishing seventh in the Cognizant Founders Cup and is 74 under par for her six strokeplay tournaments.

Korda’s dominant run includes her second major victory in the Chevron Championship but she is expecting a tough test, with the course revised and lengthened to a par-70 of 6,583 yards since it last hosted the US Open in 2015.

“It’s a beast of a golf course,” said Korda, who was not in the field nine years ago.

“Off the tee, if you don’t hit it into the fairways, it sinks down into the rough. These greens are small and very, very undulated.

“It’s going to test every aspect of just your golf game and even your mental game because it’s a major championship.

“You can get ahead of yourself, get lost in the moment. If you make a couple of mistakes here and there, sometimes it can get away from you, but it’s going to test every aspect of your game out there this week.”

Another American, Lexi Thompson, will also be in the spotlight after surprisingly announcing her retirement earlier this week with the 29-year-old set to call time at the end of the season.

This tournament holds a special place in her heart as, back in 2007, she became the then youngest player to qualify, teeing it up as a 12-year-old. Lucy Li, aged 11, broke that record in 2014.

Cavan’s Maguire, who tees off at 1.13pm Irish time, enters the tournament without the formline to suggest that she can end Ireland’s wait for a women’s major champion.

Since her T-Mobile Matchplay final loss to Korda back in April, a tie for 12th in the Cognizant Founders Cup has been sandwiched by two missed cuts.

She’ll have familiar company though with Meadow sneaking into the field late in the day.

The 32-year-old narrowly missed out on qualification when losing a play-off at a 36-hole qualifier but ultimately received one of four alternative spots.

The Antrim golfer has been cut six out of her seven times playing in the US Open, but the exception provided her best ever major result, sole possession of third place at the 2014 event when she finished three shots behind America’s Michelle Wie (she finished in a tie for third at last year’s PGA Championship).

Lahinch’s Donegan made her major debut at the event last year and looked like a superstar in the first round as she recorded a stunning 69 at Pebble Beach to leave her just one shot off lead.

Her challenge would fade, but she still finished inside the top 50 and she’s back for another charge after qualifying in the 36-hole qualifier at Rockwall Golf and Tennis Club.

Meadow is a late starter at 7.31pm with Donegan out at 12.29pm.

Additional reporting: PA

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