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Lydia Ko shot a one-over round of 72 for a share of 64th at the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles.
Lydia Ko’s hopes of winning a third major title at the US Women’s Open hang in the balance after a disappointing opening round in North Carolina.
The Kiwi golfer shot a one-over round of 72 for a share of 64th place on a difficult day at the US$10 million (NZ$15.3 million) LPGA event at Pine Needles Golf Club.
Her fellow New Zealander, Julianne Alvarez, faces a battle to make the cut in her first appearance at the tournament after a three-over 74 left her tied for 86th.
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Alvarez’s round featured three birdies, two bogies and a double bogey and the 25-year-old has work to avoid a swift exit on her major debut.
Swedish amateur Ingrid Lindblad holds the early clubhouse lead, two strokes clear of Australian world No 4 Minjee Lee and her 51-year-old compatriot Anna Nordqvist, after carding a sizzling six-under-par 65.
Ko’s major bid got off to a poor start with a bogey on the par-5 opening hole. She then made par on the next five, before a second bogey on the seventh left her well off the pace.
However, the 25-year-old bounced back on the very next hole with a birdie and then drew level par with another on the 517-yard 10th.
But a third bogey of the day on the par-five 15th put Ko back on one-over and she was unable to make up any ground on the leaders in the remaining three holes.
Ko will need to go low in her second round on Friday (Saturday NZT) if she is to get herself into contention for the title and the record US$1.8 million (NZ$2.75 million) winners’ cheque.
She spoke recently of how she feels she is at the “happiest point” of her life having rediscovered her form following a notable slump.
United States Golf Association
New Zealand golfers are flying on the world stage and Lydia Ko says it’s inspiring.
The world No 3 has also been inspired by the recent success of her fellow Kiwis Steven Alker and Ryan Fox on the PGA Tour Champions and DP World Tour respectively.
“I saw that Steve won last week, and I was watching Foxy’s playoff in the dining hall, moving my chair to get a better view, and he played amazing,” she said.
“He came second I think a few weeks ago, so it’s really cool to see the New Zealand flag being shown out there.”
Ko has not finished outside of the top 25 in any tournament this season but has work to do at Pine Needles if she wants to maintain that record.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Lydia Ko lines up a putt on the first green during the opening round of the 77th US Women’s Open.
Meanwhile, current leader Lindblad could live to regret not turning professional before the tournament began, as amateurs are not able to collect the record prizemoney on offer for the winner.
When asked if, in hindsight, that was a mistake, the 22-year-old known to her friends as “Iggy” paused and said with a smile, “I’m going to stay in college for like another year or so.”
“But when you say it, yeah… it would have been fun to win a little bit of money,” she said.
– With AP
