Wie Storms Into British Open Lead: Day 1
The 2017 Women’s British Open at Kingsbarn began today with Michelle Wie taking the top of the leaderboard finishing fast after a slow start to the tournament.
Wie had the advantage of the morning’s perfect weather conditions, allowing her to score an amazing 8-under 64 to tie her career-low round and set the women’s course record at Kingsbarns.
“The views here are just spectacular,” said Wie. “Especially when the weather is good like this, it almost feels like playing back home in Hawaii with the views. It was gorgeous out there.”
Play was suspended twice during the afternoon session due to the threat of lightning, with the late starters having to complete their rounds in driving rain on the Scottish coast.
Lindy Duncan was behind at 66, with Lexi Thompson among those at 67.
Laura Davies was one who suffered from the interruptions. Six-under par through 14 holes, the 53-year old from England finished at a 68, the same score posted by Charley Hull, Britain’s top player.
Wie recovered from a bogey at the second to post birdies at the fourth, sixth and ninth, before following back-to-back gains from the 11th by picking up another from close range at the 14th.
She rolled in a five-foot birdie at the 16th, picked up another from a couple of feet closer at the next and closed her blemish-free back nine with a 15-foot gain at the last.
The lack of wind and softness underfoot left the 6,697-yard course all but defenseless and allowed Wie to use her high-flying lofted woods to great effect.
“Any time you shoot 64 on a golf course, especially knowing a place like Kingsbarns, it’s pretty fun,” Wie said. “Winning the Women’s British Open has always been a huge goal of mine.
Kim birdied five of her opening eight holes to grab second spot, with Lindy Duncan a further stroke back on six under after firing a hat-trick of birdies around the turn.
Four consecutive gains from the seventh lifted Reid into the group on five under also including Lexi Thompson, as Davies closed her opening 68 with a 15-foot birdie.
Hull reached the turn in 33 and birdied the 14th after eagling the par-five 11th, only to slip down the leaderboard with back-to-back bogeys after the second restart.
