MAGUIRE BELIEVES ACCURACY KEY TO PRO DEBUT

GOLF: Leona Maguire is confident that her accuracy from the tee will pay dividends on her professional debut in the $1.75 million ShopRite LPGA Classic in Atlantic City.

She tees it up on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview with rookies Maddie McCrary and Lauren Coughlin hoping her experience playing in Majors as an amateur will also pay off.

“The rough is long,” she said. “They’ve let the fescue grow up, so accuracy is going to be key, which is something I’m kind of glad about.

“So lots of fairways and greens and hopefully roll in a few putts as the week goes on.”

Twin sister Lisa will be the first in action, teeing it up at 12:48 Irish time with Taylor Totland and veteran Natalie Gulbis.

In New York, Great Britain and Ireland begin their defence of the Curtis Cup at Quaker Ridge with Royal County Down Ladies’ Olivia Mehaffey and Lisburn’s Paula Grant in the side.

“I feel that it is now my role to help the younger players by taking them under my wing, ” said Mehaffey, who is one of two survivors from the winning 2016 team. “It’s a long week, and the Curtis Cup is different to other golf tournaments.”

Teenagers Annabell Fuller, Lily May Humphreys and Shannon McWilliam are also included in the team alongside India Clyburn and Sophie Lamb. The tournament is played over three days with three foursomes and three fourball matches on each of the first two days and eight singles matches on the final day. Curtis Cup,

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