August 2, 2013 Inbee Park was almost there at St. Andrews when three loose tee shots, a pair of three-putts and one double bogey on the back nine turned the course of events on Thursday in the Women’s British Open. However, she is still in competition for top slot.
Korean ran off six birdies in 10 holes to race to the top of the leader board, only to stumble coming back in for a 3-under 69 that left her three shots out of the lead.
“Once the round started, and especially playing so good the first few holes, that really gave me a lot of confidence,” Park said. “I didn’t feel much pressure during the round. I’m just glad that it is already started and I got the first round under my belt.”
[highlight] A little disappointing, but I’m glad that I’ve done that in the first round instead of the final round [/highlight]
Inbee, who has already won three major titles this year, got a feel of a roller coaster ride on the first day on the game.
Morgan Pressel, one spot out of making the Solheim Cup team this week, caught a break with the weather in the afternoon and made seven birdies in a round of 66 to share the lead with Camilla Lennarth of Sweden. They were one shot ahead of a large group that included Stacy Lewis, the former No. 1 player in women’s golf who shot 31 on the tougher back nine. Also at 67 was 2012 U.S. Women’s Open champion Na Yeon Choi.
Paula Creamer, Lizette Salas and Catriona Matthew were among those at 68 on a day when three dozen players broke 70.
Vying for success, no golfer, male or female, has ever won four in one year; the South Korean said she was more nervous than usual before getting to the first tee, perhaps because of all the chatter about a Grand Slam.
She still was only two shots behind, opening with a round that could have been much better. Even so, Park had no complaints.
“A little disappointing, but I’m glad that I’ve done that in the first round instead of the final round,” she said.
The 25-year-old Korean is No.1 woman golfer in the word. The Kraft Nabisco Championship put her in position to take No. 1 away from Lewis, and the playoff win at the LPGA Championship and four-shot win at the U.S. Women’s Open brought her to the brink of something grand.
