(Lancaster) Nelly Korda played 10 on the third hole in the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday after hitting three shots directly into a stream just in front of the 12 greene hole, a par 3.
Former champion at this tournament, Yuka Saso had a difficult start, but made some good shots which allowed her to take the lead, with a card of -2 (68).
“It’s the U.S. Open, it’s a major tournament,” Saso said. This is the biggest major championship, and I believe it will be one of the toughest weeks we will play. I don’t tell myself to be confident or stuff like that. »
Korda is tied at 137e rank after a round. It was a catastrophic result for the world No. 1 at Lancaster Country Club, an extremely difficult course that has produced very few birdies so far.
“I don’t have a lot of positive thoughts to be honest,” Korda said. I just played poorly today. I hit it badly. I found myself in a bad position. Playing 10 on a par 3 certainly won’t help anything at the U.S. Open. »
Korda has only two career top-10 finishes at the U.S. Women’s Open, one of the toughest tournaments in women’s professional golf.
The top 10 golfers in the world averaged 75.5 after the round, including Korda at 80. Only two-time major champion Minjee Lee was not over par.
Quebecer Maude-Aimée Leblanc, from Sherbrooke, finished the round in 15e position, with one more stroke than normal (71).
Ontario’s Brooke Henderson is 12 shots off the lead after Thursday’s round.