Inbee Park, seeking an unprecedented fourth straight major championship title in the same season, got off to a sizzling start at the Women’s British Open on Thursday, but struggled coming down the stretch.
2013 Women’s British Open: Inbee Park slumps after strong start at St. Andrews
Inbee Park begins her pursuit of a record-breaking fourth consecutive major championship victory with an up-and-down 3-under 69 at St. Andrews.
David Cannon
Inexplicably for one of the most reliable putters in the game, Park’s flat stick went cold as she three-putted the par-4 16th and 17th holes, posting double-bogey and bogey before finishing her first round with a birdie-3 on No. 18.
@Golfweek_Baldry she is human :-)
— Brittany Lincicome (@Brittany1golf) August 1, 2013
Beginning with a birdie on the first and adding four more on her flawless opening nine, Park, who, with a win this week at St. Andrews would become the first golfer ever to claim four professional majors in the same season, made the turn at 5-under. She added another on the 10th, but scuffled coming in and ended the opening round with a 3-under 69.
“It was like a roller coaster,” Park, who trailed early clubhouse leaders Stacy Lewis and Na Yeon Choi by two strokes, told GolfChannel.com’s Randall Mell of her up-and-down day on the Old Course.
With the afternoon wave yet to tee off, 2010 U.S. Open champion Paula Creamer made four birdies to post a 68. In other early scores, amateur teen phenom Lydia Ko was tied with Park, Sandra Gal, and Ai Miyazato.
