SHADOW CREEK IS BOTH BEAUTY AND THE BEAST FOR LEONA MAGUIRE AT THE ARAMCO CHAMPIONSHIP

Competing at Shadow Creek for this week's $4 million Aramco Championship has given Ireland's Leona Maguire a taste of both the Beauty and the Beast.

The Beauty comes from the spectacular condition and quality of the Tom Fazio-designed layout with its picturesque mountain backdrop.

The Beast comes from the brutal challenge provided by Shadow Creek, especially when the winds gust as much as they did during Friday's second round of the PIF Global Series event and putting becomes something of a lottery on firm greens.

"Beauty-wise, Shadow Creek is definitely up there," said two-time LPGA Tour winner Maguire after working hard in tough conditions to card a 1-under 71 and end the day in a tie for second at 3-under in the event co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA.

"I would put this course in a similar category with Evian (Resort Golf Club in France). Evian is nice with Lake Geneva and the mountains in the backdrop, and you've also got the mountains here. But you can't switch off for a second on this golf course. You don't want to get too distracted by all the beauty looking around you."

Maguire, the former world No 1 amateur who in 2022 became the first Irish woman to win on the LPGA Tour, felt that Shadow Creek was a major championship quality venue.

"It's a fantastic golf course," said the 31-year-old from County Cavan. "It's one of the best courses we play all year. I think you could have a major championship here in the morning and no one would think twice about it. It's one of my favourites of the year. I always enjoy coming here. I was disappointed when the match play wasn't coming back and was excited when I heard this was coming."

Shadow Creek previously hosted the LPGA Tour's T-Mobile Match Play event where Maguire finished runner-up to American Nelly Korda in 2024.

But then there is also the Beast aspect at Shadow Creek.

"It's a tough golf course; no question about that," said Maguire, whose only Ladies European Tour (LET) victory came at the 2024 Aramco Team Series event at Centurion Club in England where she led after all three rounds. "It's almost bordering on a U.S. Open style setup. You see how few people are under par. It feels a little bit like a major without being a major."

Maguire, who mixed four birdies with three bogeys in the challenging conditions, knew that she faced a daunting task after teeing off from the par-4 first in the afternoon wave.

"Going out today, I think we knew it was going to be tough," she said. "Obviously a lot windier, different wind than we got all week as well, which made some holes play quite a bit longer.

"We knew we were going to get the firmer end of the greens this afternoon, so it was just a case of staying extremely patient. It's almost bordering on a U.S. Open style setup. You see how few people are under par. It feels a little bit like a major without being a major."

Asked how much of an advantage it was to have played the course previously at the T-Mobile Match Play, Maguire replied: "I think it helps. The more you play this golf course you know the banks and certain things. It's extremely tough either way. Sometimes you're better off not knowing what some of the holes do."