Casandra Alexander of South Africa emerged as the champion of the rain‑soaked KPMG Irish Open, delivering a commanding performance throughout a damp week in County Kildare. After finishing as a runner‑up five times this season on the Ladies European Tour, Alexander finally broke her streak of near‑misses with a wire‑to‑wire triumph, highlighted by an opening‑round course record of 63 on the Palmer South Course at The K Club. From the first tee, Alexander set the tone, birdieing three of her first four holes and never looking back. She finished the tournament at an astonishing 20‑under par, three strokes ahead of Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova, with Finland’s Noora Komulainen a further shot behind.
Her flawless play not only secured the title but also underscored her growing stature on the tour, proving that she can convert consistent high finishes into outright victories. Leona Maguire, the Irish favorite, delighted the home crowd by finishing fourth, five shots off the lead. Her performance came during a historic week for Irish golf, as a record nine Irish professionals and seven amateurs entered the field, marking the strongest national representation the tournament has ever seen. Maguire’s final‑round surge, which included a flurry of birdies, demonstrated her ability to thrive under pressure, even if she ultimately fell short of the podium.
The tournament was heavily influenced by the weather from the start. Saturday’s third round was suspended for 45 minutes as a deluge swept across the Palmer South Course, and the final round’s closing par‑five was shortened on Sunday to accommodate the lingering rain.
These conditions added an extra layer of difficulty, testing the players’ adaptability and mental toughness. Alexander’s moment of vulnerability arrived early on the final day when she dropped shots on the first two holes, hinting at a possible slip after a week of dominance.
However, she quickly regained her composure, firing three consecutive birdies from the fifth hole onward. This stretch rebuilt her cushion and re‑established control, allowing her to finish the tournament with a decisive lead.
"This one is really special," Alexander said after her victory. "It’s a special event, and I feel like this win is as important as my first because it proves I’m not just a fluke." She added that she was eager to return home and celebrate with friends and family, emphasizing that her primary goal for the season is to top the Order of Merit, a target best achieved by winning tournaments like this one. Maguire’s final round began with her seven strokes behind the leader, but she carried momentum from her own impressive 63 in the second round, which featured nine birdies and no bogeys before the heaviest rain fell on Saturday. On Sunday, she energized the home supporters with four birdies in a five‑hole stretch around the turn, climbing to 15‑under par.
Unfortunately, her surge was halted by six consecutive pars and a bogey on the shortened 17th, before she finished with a birdie on the final hole. Her fourth‑place finish ties her best result at the Irish Open, previously achieved at Dromoland Castle in 2022. "It’s been a great week," Maguire reflected. "The crowds have been fantastic, rain, hail or shine.
I think this is another very successful Irish Open, and the fans really made it special. Getting a couple of low rounds over the weekend was nice, and overall 15‑under is a solid effort that gave the home fans something to cheer about." Maguire’s performance arrives at an opportune moment, as she has been selected by captain Anna Nordqvist for next month’s Solheim Cup. This selection is significant because Maguire has struggled in majors this year, missing the cut in four of five and not winning for two seasons. A top‑five finish at her national open suggests her form is finally clicking at the right time.
Her Solheim Cup record stands at 8‑3‑1 over three appearances, and she was the top scorer as an unbeaten rookie during Europe’s 2021 victory. This pedigree made her the sole experienced player among Nordqvist’s four captain’s picks, which also include debutants Julia Lopez Ramirez (Spain), Nastasia Nadaud (France) and Mimi Rhodes (England).
Both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour will observe a brief pause before the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, set to be contested at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Team Europe will be looking to reclaim the trophy from Team USA in what promises to be a fiercely contested biennial event.
The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 10, at 4 pm on Sky Sports+, followed by comprehensive coverage across all three days on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage starts at 6 am on Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12, with two sessions each day, and concludes with the singles matches at 9 am on Sunday, September 13. Viewers can also access the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the action without a contract via NOW.
Overall, the 2024 KPMG Women’s Irish Open showcased the resilience and skill of its competitors, highlighted by Alexander’s record‑setting win, Maguire’s inspiring home‑soil performance, and the anticipation building toward the upcoming Solheim Cup, where Europe hopes to turn the tide against a dominant United States team.