Hall of Famer Karrie Webb has parred the first 10 holes before going on a birdie spree that carried her to a 4-under 66 for a share of the early first-round lead at the US Women’s Open.
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After a two-hour wait, play was called off with more than 50 players yet to finish the first round. “So that was just – I mean I was a nervous kid pretty much”. “The greens are very slopey here, so when it gets hard and fast it gets really tough”. “I’ve felt like I’ve been close”.
“I qualified like the last spot on my sectional”, she said.
Iowa native Zach Johnson, who has finished either first or second in three straight John Deere Classics, shot a 66. “Chip shot is good, putting is good, everything, I have a confidence”.
Alex, playing in her second U.S. Open and first as a professional, birdied three of her last five holes on Thursday.
“It’s totally different”, she explained.
Amateurs Regina Plasencia of Mexico and American Megan Khang also reached four-under before falling back. “I just have to keep on improving what I improved on today”.
Inbee Park’s focus sharpens during major championship weeks, and the South Korean is dialed in for the U.S. Women’s Open.
(Scott Halleran/Getty Images) Sei Young Kim finished second at the Women’s PGA Championship with Paul Fusco.
Alex’s only previous U.S. Open experience came in 2009 at Saucon Valley where she missed the cut after shooting 160. She’s thrilled to be back in the championship. It happened, however, back in 2001, several months before the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
“I found a key to make birdies”, she said.
Marina Alex, part of a three-way tie for the lead after one round, carded a 1-over 71 and was in fourth place at 3-under 137.
South Korea’s Amy Yang was a stroke behind with 67.
Park was 16th on tour in hitting greens in regulation when she won three majors in 2013. To counter the conditions, the USGA moved up tees on a number of key holes on the 6,483-yard design, especially on the front nine. The wind kicked up in the afternoon prior to the arrival of the storms, and so did the scores. The combination accounted for eight of the top nine completed rounds on the day.
Lydia Ko has made a solid start to the US Open women’s golf championship, carding an even-par 70 in the opening round at the Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. She hit her approach to within a foot on No. 14 and punctuated the run.
“I’ve watched Michelle Wie grow and love that girl to death”, she said. “I did a really good job of that”. My game then and now is not even remotely the same.
Spieth is one of just five golfers in the top 20 of the Fed Ex Cup standings to play in the Quad Cities. At Lancaster, she has 13 fairways and 17 greens after one day. It’s a little bit disappointing. “I’m not a frontrunner for this tournament, really”.
“You can t win the tournament on the first day, but you definitely can lose it”, she told reporters. 2, 3 and 5 to pull within a shot of the lead. I went to their house and had a tour around the house. The 28-year-old American got off to a quick start when play resumed, making a 15-foot downhill putt for birdie at the par-4, 14th to tie for the lead.
“That’s never been a goal of mine”, she said.
Alex was an unlikely leader. “So I think this is hopefully a trend in the right direction”.
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“We have the largest purse in women’s golf”, Lance said. “There are so many people out here, it’s great”.
