Casandra Alexander of South Africa emerged victorious at the rain‑soaked KPMG Irish Open, delivering a commanding performance throughout a challenging week in County Kildare. After finishing as runner‑up on five occasions this season, the Ladies European Tour standout finally broke her string of near‑misses with a wire‑to‑wire win, highlighted by a record‑low round of 63 on the opening day at The K Club's Palmer South Course. Alexander opened her round with birdies on three of the first four holes and never looked back, closing the tournament at 20‑under par, three strokes ahead of Czech competitor Sara Kouskova. Finland's Noora Komulainen trailed a further shot behind, rounding out the top three.
Irish hopeful Leona Maguire, the tournament's highest‑placed local, finished fourth, five shots off the lead, in a historic edition that featured a record contingent of Irish players – nine professionals and seven amateurs – the strongest home representation ever recorded at the event. The week was dominated by inclement weather from the outset. Saturday's third round was interrupted for 45 minutes by a heavy downpour that swept across the Palmer South Course, and the final day's closing par‑five was shortened to accommodate the lingering rain.
On the final day, Alexander briefly showed a hint of vulnerability, dropping shots on the first two holes, but she quickly regained her composure with three consecutive birdies beginning on the fifth hole. Those birdies rebuilt her cushion and allowed her to steer the tournament toward a long‑awaited triumph. "This one is really special," Alexander said after her win.
"First, it's a prestigious event, and second, I feel like this victory is as important as my first because it proves I'm not just a fluke." She added, "I can't wait to get home and celebrate with friends and family. Winning the Order of Merit is my number‑one goal, and the best way to secure it is by winning tournaments like this." Maguire, who started the final round seven shots behind the leader, carried momentum from her own spectacular 63 earlier in the week – a round that featured nine birdies and no missed shots, posted before the worst of Saturday's rain arrived. On Sunday she ignited the home crowd with four birdies in a five‑hole stretch around the turn, climbing to 15‑under. However, the surge was followed by six consecutive pars and a bogey on the shortened 17th before she finished with a birdie on the final hole, securing fourth place.
This result matches her best finish 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 another very successful Irish Open is now in the books, and the fans really made a difference this week. Getting a couple of low rounds over the weekend was nice. Friday was the one that got away, but overall 15‑under is a solid effort and it's great to give the home fans something to cheer about." Maguire's timing could not be better, as she was named a captain's pick by Anna Nordqvist for next month's Solheim Cup. This selection arrives after a season in which Maguire missed the cut in four of the five majors and endured a two‑year winless streak.
A top‑five finish on home soil suggests her form is finally clicking at the right moment. Across three Solheim Cup appearances, Maguire holds an 8‑3‑1 record and was the top scorer as an unbeaten rookie during Europe's 2021 victory. Her experience made her the sole veteran among Nordqvist's four picks, which also include debutants Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain, Nastasia Nadaud of France, and Mimi Rhodes of England. Both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour will observe a brief hiatus before the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, scheduled for Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, where Team Europe aims to reclaim the trophy from Team USA.
The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 10 at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports+, followed by round‑the‑clock coverage of the three‑day contest on Sky Sports Golf.
Coverage starts at 6 a.m. on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12, with two sessions each day, and resumes at 9 a.m.
for the singles on Sunday, September 13. Viewers can also access the latest Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract on NOW.