Casandra Alexander of South Africa emerged as the champion of the weather‑marred KPMG Irish Open, delivering a commanding performance throughout a rain‑soaked week in County Kildare. After finishing as runner‑up on five occasions this season, the Ladies European Tour standout finally broke through with a wire‑to‑wire victory, highlighted by a record‑setting 63 on the opening day at The K Club's Palmer South Course. Alexander launched her round with birdies on three of her first four holes and never looked back, closing at an astonishing 20‑under par.
She finished three strokes clear of Czech contender Sara Kouskova, with Finland's Noora Komulainen a further shot behind. The South African’s dominance was underscored by her flawless play on the first day, where she posted the lowest round in the tournament’s history, setting the tone for the days that followed. Leona Maguire, the Irish favorite, finished as the highest‑placed home player, landing in fourth place five shots off the lead.
Her performance came during a historic week for Irish golf, with a record nine Irish professionals and seven amateurs entering the field – the strongest home representation ever recorded at the event. The tournament was a battle against the elements from the start. Saturday’s third round was suspended for 45 minutes as heavy rain swept across Palmer South, and the final round’s closing par‑five was shortened on Sunday to accommodate the wet conditions. At one point on the final day, Alexander appeared vulnerable, dropping shots on her first two holes – the only moment in the week where she seemed in danger of faltering.
However, she quickly regained composure, stringing together three consecutive birdies from the fifth hole onward, rebuilding her lead and steering the tournament back onto a smooth trajectory. “This win means a lot,” Alexander said after her victory. “It’s a special event, and I feel this one is just as important as my first win because it proves I’m not just a one‑time fluke.” She added that she was eager to return home and celebrate with family and friends, emphasizing that her primary goal for the season is to top the Order of Merit, a target best achieved by accumulating tournament wins.
Maguire’s final round began seven shots behind the leader, but she carried the momentum of her own 63 from earlier in the week – a round that featured nine birdies and no mistakes, posted before the worst of Saturday’s rain arrived. On Sunday, she energized the home crowd with a burst of four birdies in five holes around the turn, propelling her score to 15‑under.
Unfortunately, that 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. The 31‑year‑old’s finish ties her best result at the Irish Open, a feat she previously achieved at Dromoland Castle in 2022.
“It’s been a fantastic week,” Maguire reflected. “The fans have been amazing, rain or shine. I think we’ve added another successful chapter to the Irish Open’s history, and the supporters really lifted the atmosphere.” She also noted that while Friday’s round didn’t go as planned, a total of 15‑under for the tournament represents a solid performance and gives Irish supporters something to cheer about. Maguire’s timing could not be better, as she was named one of Anna Nordqvist’s captain’s picks for the upcoming Solheim Cup.
This selection arrives after a challenging season in which she missed the cut in four of the five majors and endured a two‑year winless stretch. A top‑five finish on home soil suggests her form is finally clicking at a crucial moment.
Her Solheim Cup record stands at 8‑3‑1 over three appearances, and she was the leading scorer during Europe’s victorious 2021 campaign, where she remained unbeaten as a rookie. This 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 pause before the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, scheduled for Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Team Europe will look to reclaim the trophy from Team USA.
The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 10, at 4 pm on Sky Sports+, followed by continuous coverage across all three days of the biennial contest on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage starts at 6 am on Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12, with two sessions each day, and resumes at 9 am for the singles on Sunday, September 13.
Viewers can also access the latest Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract via NOW.