Aussie in birdie blitz to swing into lead
KARRIE Webb has carded a superb 65 to claim a narrow lead after the opening round of the Scottish Open.
The Aussie fired five birdies in a row from the 11th and seven in her last 10 holes to finish seven-under-par at Dundonald Links, a shot ahead of American Cristie Kerr.
“When we were warming up and for our first few holes it was really cold and really windy,” Webb said.
“I looked at the scoreboard and saw that Cristie Kerr shot six-under and I was like: ‘What course did she play today?’
“Then I really hung in there through the front nine and made a nice birdie on nine to turn at one under, and then just really started swinging at it well and hitting it quite close and had some good birdie chances and made the most of them.
“When you make a few birdies it’s important not to just go into the mode of just holding on.”
Su Oh was the next best Australian with a one-over 73.
Minjee Lee was a further shot back alongside Katherine Kirk and New Zealand superstar Lydia Ko.
Olympic champion Inbee Park was part of a group three shots off the lead which included fellow South Korean Sei Young Kim and American Stacy Lewis.
England’s Annabel Dimmock was a shot further back after a round of 70, but home favourite Catriona Matthew could only manage a two-overpar 74.