I was up far earlier than usual last Sunday morning, but I wasn't reaching for the kettle, I was reaching for my phone to check the leaderboard of the LET Australian Women's Classic. I knew England’s Meghan MacLaren was right in the hunt, and I couldn't wait to see if she could pull it off.
Checking in on Meghan feels a bit more personal for me. I’ve known her through her family for years, but I really got to know her tenacity and her dedicated approach to the game during my time as Editor of Women & Golf.
Meghan wrote a monthly column about the life of a touring pro, and let me tell you, if there is a single blade of grass or a swing thought that Meghan hasn’t deeply analysed, I’ve yet to find it! I used to joke that she could find a philosophical meaning in a three-putt, but that analytical mind is exactly what makes her so compelling.
For those who haven't followed the Meghan rollercoaster, it’s a masterclass in mental resilience. After turning pro in 2016 and becoming a triple-winner on the LET, she hit a rock bottom that would have broken many players. By the end of 2024, she had lost her full playing privileges.
She spent last year as a journeyman, playing on limited invites and fighting for every start, eventually facing the ultimate do or die test at Q-School in Morocco last December. She secured her 2026 LET card, finishing in a share of 16th place. Fast forward to this March, and the comeback is officially on.
While she didn't quite get the win last Sunday, seeing her finish in joint second place felt like a victory in itself. It was a brilliant day for the English flag overall, as she shared that podium spot with fellow Brit Caley McGinty. After everything Meghan has been through over the last couple of years, seeing her name back at the sharp end of a leaderboard.
The emotional weight of her comeback really hit home during her post-round interview. Standing there after a second-round 67, a flawless card featuring five birdies, she recalled a starkly different scene from two years earlier. With typical honesty, she remembered sitting on the grass at Magenta Shores after her opening round, crying her eyes out and unable to see a way back to the top.
There is a huge lesson here for all of us. As club golfers, we have more slumps than most! We’ve all had those days where we want to leave our clubs in the car park and never look back. But Meghan’s story reminds us that form is temporary, but grit is permanent. If a three-time winner can lose her way and find it again through sheer mental toughness, there’s hope for our handicaps yet!
If you’re feeling like your own game is in a bit of a mental fog, I’ve found this article on building on-course resilience that might just help you navigate your next round.
Alison Root
Women's Editor Golf Monthly
Image courtesy of Ladies European Tour
