Lindblad sets Women’s Open amateur mark
Ingrid Lindblad decided months ago that she wanted to stay in college instead of turning professional. That might be a financial decision she comes to regret.
The 22-year-old Swede shot the lowest round by an amateur in the 77-year history of the U.S. Women’s Open, a 6-under 65 that left her a shot behind first-round leader Mina Harigae on Thursday in Southern Pines, N.C.
Because she’s an amateur, Lindblad wouldn’t be able to collect the record $1.8 million firstplace prize if she wins at Pine Needles.
When asked if, in hindsight, that was a mistake, the LSU junior known to her friends as “Iggy” paused and said with a smile, “I’m going to stay in college for like another year or so. But when you say it, yeah … it would have been fun to win a little bit of money.”
She has a 54 holes to navigate, but Lindblad has a chance to become only the second amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open. The other was Catherine Lacoste in 1967. Three amateurs had previously shot 66 — Carol Semple Thompson in 1994, Brittany Lincicome in 2004 and Gina Kim in 2019.
“She was fearless,” said Lindblad’s playing partner, Annika Sorenstam, Sweden’s most famous female golfer and a threetime U.S. Women’s Open champion.
Three-time major winner Anna Nordqvist, also from Sweden, and 2021 Evian Championship champion Minjee Lee of Australia were at 67 with American Ryann O’Toole.
Nelly Korda looked strong in her return from surgery and appears ready to contend, as well.
Outside of a double bogey at the par-4 11th, the world’s No. 2-ranked player played a fairly flawless round in her first competitive tournament since Feb. 25 after developing a blood clot in her arm. She shot 70.
Lydia Ko shot 72. Michelle Wie West finished with a 73 in what is expected to be her secondto-last major before retiring. Defending champion Yuka Saso from Japan struggled, shooting 77.
The 51-year-old Sorenstam was even par through 13 holes before bogeying three of her final five for a 3-over 74, leaving her in danger of missing the cut. The top 60 players, plus ties, make the cut.
The 10-time major champion qualified for the event by winning the U.S. Women’s Senior Open last year. She said she no longer gets mad at herself when things don’t go well and is simply trying to enjoy the tournament with her family. She won at Pine Needles in 1996.
PGA Tour: In his first start since challenging at the PGA Championship, Cameron Young finished with two birdies over his last three holes for a 5under 67 on rain-softened Muirfield Village, joining five other players for a share of the lead after the first round of the Memorial at Dublin, Ohio.
Joining Young were Luke List, Cameron Smith, K.H. Lee, Mackenzie Hughes and Davis Riley. Will Zalatoris, who lost in the PGA Championship playoff to Justin Thomas, had eight birdies in his round of 68; Cal alum Collin Morikawa shot 71, Jon Rahm shot 72 and Bryson DeChambeau, in his first tournament since the Masters because of surgery on his left hand, had a 76.
DP World Tour: Li Haotong and Joakim Lagergren both shot a 5-under 67 to share the lead after the first round of the European Open in Winsen, Germany.