She seemed to be borrowing from the Shubhankar Sharma playbook. Tvesa Malik produced four birdies and four bogeys in her first round of professional golf in months. The Indian shot an even 71 in the Ladies Scottish Open, not unlike Shubhankar in the Celtic Classic.
Aditi Ashok was hurt by three bogeys on the opening nine holes. She went past the corner in 39 strokes. And even though she made two birdies at the tenth and fourteenth holes, it was only enough for a 73.
Diksha Dagar endured a brutal test upon her return to action, as a double bogey seven on the 7th hole and five other bogeys left her with a severely dented card of 78.
Nicole Broch Larsen was in the lead at four-under 67, when play was suspended for inclement weather. Emily Kristine Pedersen and Olivia Cowan shot 68, along with Jennifer Song, Amy Olson and Azahara Munoz were all tied in second behind Larsen.
“I had 26 putts, so that helps a lot. I didn’t hit it super close but I made a couple of long ones, and I just tried to keep it in play. I feel like that’s kind of the secret to links golf.”
Olson is looking for her first LPGA victory, after spending seven years on the LPGA. And a 69 sets her up for a promising week in the cold climes of Scotland.
“Golf is so funny,” Olson said. “You’re always overcoming changes. You’re always making changes, whether it’s to your equipment, your stroke, or your equipment to match your swing changes. It’s an evolving process and you never have it 100% figured out. You’re always learning.
“I was doing a lot of that during the quarantine,” she said. “But until you put it into competition, you don’t always know, and you don’t fully trust it. I think these first couple weeks have been very helpful for me.”
