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 runner‑up on five separate occasions earlier in the season, Alexander finally broke through with a wire‑to‑wire win, highlighted by an astonishing course‑record 63 on the opening day at The K Club's Palmer South Course.
From the very first tee she was in the zone, birdieing three of her initial four holes and never looking back. She closed the tournament at 20‑under par, three strokes ahead of Czech Republic's Sara Kouskova, with Finland's Noora Komulainen a further shot back. Alexander's flawless play not only secured her maiden victory of the year but also underscored her status as the leading player on the Ladies European Tour.
Leona Maguire, the Irish favorite, finished as the top home‑grown competitor, landing in fourth place 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 home representation the tournament has ever seen. The event was a constant battle with the elements.
Saturday's third round was suspended for 45 minutes as heavy rain hammered the Palmer South Course, and the final round on Sunday saw the closing par‑five shortened to accommodate the wet conditions. Despite these interruptions, Alexander maintained her composure.
Early on the final day she stumbled on the first two holes, the only real sign of vulnerability she displayed all week. However, she quickly rebounded with three consecutive birdies beginning on the fifth hole, re‑establishing a comfortable cushion and steering the tournament toward a long‑awaited triumph. "This one is really special," Alexander said after her win.
"It's a prestigious event, and I feel like this victory is as important as my first because it's not a fluke! I can't wait to get home and celebrate with friends and family.
My primary goal is the Order of Merit, and the best way to win that is by winning tournaments like this." Maguire's final round began seven shots behind the leader, but she carried momentum from her own 63 on Friday, a round that featured nine birdies and no mistakes 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. Unfortunately, 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 ties her best finish at the Irish Open, matching her performance at Dromoland Castle in 2022.
"It's been a great week," Maguire reflected. "The crowds have been fantastic, rain, hail or shine. I think we've added another successful Irish Open to 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 par is a solid effort and it's rewarding to give the home fans something to cheer about." Maguire's timing could not be better as she has been selected by captain Anna Nordqvist as a captain's pick for next month's Solheim Cup. This comes after a season in which she missed the cut in four of the five majors and has gone two years without a victory.
A top‑five finish on home soil suggests her form is clicking at the perfect moment. Her Solheim Cup record stands at 8‑3‑1 over three appearances, and she was the top scorer as an unbeaten rookie when Europe captured the trophy in 2021. 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, set to be contested at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Team Europe will look to reclaim the cup from Team USA. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 10 at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports+, followed by continuous coverage of all three competition days 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 via NOW.