If Leona Maguire needed any motivation going into her second full LPGA Tour season then she got it last week.
After a month at home in Cavan having made the world's top 50 last year, Maguire flew back to Lake Nona a fortnight ago ahead of the new campaign.
It was there that the season opener, the Tournament of Champions, took place last week - involving all of last year's Tour winners.
Maguire came close to joining that list in a stellar 2021, the highlight being her record-breaking Solheim Cup display.
As she worked away on the range last week, she could see the likes of world number one Nelly Korda and eventual winner Danielle Kang warm up at the other end.
"Obviously I would’ve loved to have been playing there," said Maguire.
"I didn’t watch any of the golf to be honest, I was too busy getting ready for my own season.
"I’d love to be there next year. That’s where everybody teeing it up this week wants to be, it would be nice to start your season in Lake Nona obviously."
It is not her style to record her aims for the year in terms of potential victories. Instead, she strives to make the marginal gains that make her a better player.
That policy has worked so far and the 27-year-old is not for changing.
Her schedule is more or less set until June and includes first trips to Palos Verdes on the west coast, plus Singapore and Thailand in a few weeks.
She is also in this year's US Open at Pine Needles, having missed out last year.
"I’ve the greatest job in the world," she enthused.
"This is where I want to be, starting off the year - a year full of new opportunities, whatever events I play, and go around the world.
"It's a very fortunate position. You don’t realise when you go from event to event, hotel room to hotel room. But when you sit down at Christmas, you reflect."
Maguire got the chance to do that when chatting to some of Ireland's other sporting stars at end of year awards ceremonies.
"Kellie (Harrington), Ellen (Keane), Rachael Blackmore, we’re all very fortunate to be doing what we’re doing. I wouldn’t change it for the world," she stressed.
"It's about making the most of opportunities and enjoying it as much as I can."
Maguire missed the cut the last time the Tour came to Boca Rio, at the start of her rookie season. The Florida venue is where she gets underway again this week.
"It’s nice to see where my game is at there compared to where it was two years ago," she said.
"Hopefully I'll feel a lot more comfortable out there. I know what it takes to be in contention in the lead groups in the LPGA on a Sunday.
"Success is relative. You look at the Kordas' career - Nelly has won majors, world number one, Olympic gold medal.
"Everyone’s journey is very different. It’s very easy to compare yourself to people you pitch up with, Nelly, Lydia (Ko) people like that. Ultimately it’s my own journey.
"All I can be is better than I was yesterday, better than last year. That’s success for me.
"I didn’t win in 2021 but I felt it was my most successful year because I committed to the changes I made and executed them when I needed to, for the most part.
"For me, that was a big success."
KPMG is teeing off into a new horizon as it announces a four-year extension to its existing partnership with Irish professional golfer, Leona Maguire. KPMG has been a proud supporter of the Cavan golfer ever since she turned professional in 2018 and today’s announcement represents a long-term commitment which will see Leona remain a KPMG ambassador as she progresses into the next stage of her career.
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
