Henderson four off the pace at British Open
The big thing missing for Minjee Lee in her impressive season is a strong performance at a major championship.
She might get it at the Women’s British Open.
The No. 8-ranked Australian shot a 7-under 65, including an eagle from 25 feet on the par-5 15th hole, to lead by one stroke after the first round Thursday at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club.
Mamiko Higa was a shot behind after a 66, while five players — Georgia Hall, Teresa Lu, Sunghyun Park, Mi-hyang Lee and Pornanong Phatlum — were a further stroke back on a day that started with showers and a breeze before brightening up.
Top-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn bounced back from a doublebogey at the second hole to shoot a 71. Second-ranked Inbee Park dropped four shots in her first five holes in a 76.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was in a group at 3 under. Henderson bogeyed two of the first three holes and was 1 over at the turn, but responded with a back nine that included five birdies and a bogey. Fellow Canadian Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., was below the projected cut line at 2 over.
Only a series of missed putts stopped Lee from winning the tune-up for the fourth major of the year, last weekend’s Ladies Scottish Open on the links at Gullane where Jutanugarn eventually prevailed by one shot.
Still, a closing 66 was another encouraging sign for Lee. She has one win, two runners-up and five top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour this season, is second in points and arrived at Lytham at a career-high No. 8 in the rankings.
Michelle Wie withdrew midway through her first round because of a right hand injury. The American golfer was 7 over after 12 holes.
Wie, who is ranked No. 18, said in a post on Twitter she “couldn’t handle the pain any longer.”