The 40-year-old Webb reeled off four birdies on her second nine holes and finished with her first score in the 60s in a U.S. Open since 2001, when the Australian won the tournament for the second straight year.
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After a two-hour wait, play was called off for the day with more than 50 players yet to finish the first round. And for me it s about controlling my emotions and not getting too high or too low, especially in the first couple of rounds. “I’ve worked really hard over the past year because I changed coaches”. Yang has completed her round, Choi has played 15 holes, while Park has played 13.
Graeme McDowell, the 2008 champion, bogeyed the last two holes for 66 and a share of fifth place with Americans Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and three others. Fellow Buff ‘N Blue standout Mariel Galdiano was even par through 12 holes before having her round suspended due to rain. She appears to be speaking LaCoste’s language.
South Korea’s Amy Yang was a stroke behind with 67. Morgan Pressel had a share of the lead with three holes to play, but bogeyed two straight and needed a knee-knocking, par-saver of a putt on the last to finish with a 68. Stacy Lewis and Azahara Munoz had 69s. Heo, who was exempt into the championship, has been replaced by Ally McDonald, of Fulton, Miss., who was the first alternate at the Atlanta sectional qualifier … But the lack of distance on her tee shots has kept her out of the winner’s circle on the LPGA Tour in her ninth season.
“It’s been a test of my patience”, said Webb, who had two wins previous year.
“I liked it the first time I saw it”, said Webb after her round. Regardless, she’s ready to put the good feelings from previous year a Pinehurst away and try to defend her crown. Rain has been steady presence in the area – sound familiar?
The stoppage came with 55 golfers still on the course. Many expected the bigger hitters to enjoy the advantage, those able to carry the ball farther and keep it on the roll-slowing fairways. And the greens are very soft, very receptive.
Iowa native Zach Johnson, who has finished either first or second in three straight John Deere Classics, shot a 66.
Beyond those four players are six players at -2 under and one player at -1 under. I was waiting on the 8th tee, I used every club in my bag except the 6-iron.
Spieth finally got something going on his 13th hole, sinking a 32-foot birdie putt after escaping the bunker.
On the eighth, a 205-yard par-3, the two-time All-American at Vanderbilt hit a 5-wood and sank a 20-foot putt.
When asked whether the new partnership would affect the prize money awarded to the women, USGA communications representative Christina Lance said she could not comment on the specifics of the deal. When you play like that, you know, it’s not easy but it’s less stressful than I could have made it…I hit the first 17 greens, and gave myself a lot of looks. My game made it a little bit easier for me.
Both Webb and Alex started on the back side and closed on the front. After a par on five, Webb birdied the remaining par-3s, Nos. “So I think this is hopefully a trend in the right direction”.
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Michelle isn’t the only local girl taking part in the Open.
