Heo, who was exempt into the championship, has been replaced by Ally McDonald, of Fulton, Miss., who was the first alternate at the Atlanta sectional qualifier …
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But it’s not the clinching putt, award ceremony or winner’s trophy that brightens Wie’s smile.
“When I come to major championships, I work extra hard”, said Park, who has six majors among her 15 LPGA titles.
If she wins this tournament, the Seoul-born golfer will rank seventh on the all-time majors win list with seven victories, and will tie her for the most wins among active players with Juli Inkster and Karrie Webb. The 6,400-yard, par-70 Lancaster Country Club layout calls for long, accurate drives and pinpoint putting, and Wie believes she is up for the challenge.
“I’ve just got to take it as just another tournament”, Ko said. “Now it’s my third time being here, I don’t feel that much pressure anymore”. I’ve been struggling with a couple of injuries and illnesses. She has battled strep throat and a sinus infection, and she’s just showing signs of moving past a debilitating left hip injury that forced her to withdraw from a tournament at Kingsmill after one round. She’s still looking for a top-10 finish, with her best a tie for 11th in the Lotte Championship.
Its definitely a different beast this week, Wie said. “I think it’s more diverse”. Every day feels better than the day before.
When she turned pro late in 2005, Wie had no LPGA status and elected not to petition for it. She was Michelle Wie, her management figured, she could pick her spots. And the short game is really going to come in play if/when a player misses a green. Standout South Korean rookie Sei Young Kim had her caddie removed from the championship by the United States Golf Association for taking photos of internal notes on the course setup.
It says the move was made to protect the entire field.
“Golf is a game of honor and integrity”, Murphy said. “So it was a terribly poor judgment on his part”.
■ There were a record 1,873 entries for this year’s championship, easily eclipsing the previous high of 1,702 for last year’s event at Pinehurst No. 2.
Laura Davies, of England, is the senior competitor at 51 years old.
Ko is in same group with the 2011 champion Ryu So-yeon and last year’s runner-up Stacy Lewis.
Where: Lancaster Country Club, 1466 New Holland Pike, Lancaster.
Candid words from a player who seemed finally last year – after overcoming years of afflictions and disparagement to win on home turf in Hawaii, contend at the Kraft Nabisco and capture the US Open – to be on the upward trajectory that over-the-top hype promised for her for so long.
Alex, playing in her second Open and first since 2009, was an unlikely first-round co-leader.
When the championship kicks off Thursday morning at Lancaster Country Club, Park will face stiff competition in the 156-player field.
“What would we do without social media?” Said Lincicome: “I don’t normally pay attention to the prize”.
“I thought I would have it only for one week, to be honest”. I went to their house and had a tour around the house.
The purse for the Open is $4.5 million, a half-million dollar increase over past year.
Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have been named honorary co-chairmen of the 2016 USA Open at Oakmont Country Club, site of one of their legendary duels.
Alex added there is a world of difference between her first Women’s Open experience and her performance Thursday.
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Entering its 70th edition, the USA Women’s Open has been a memorable event for Korea’s ladies. “I’ve played a few now in Britain, and the Evian in France, so it’s exciting to be involved in the U.S”.
