Lincicome struggles in PGA Tour introduction

Brittany Lincicome NICHOLASVILLE, KY. has a huge hole to climb out of if she hopes to make golf history.

Lincicome shot a 6-over 78 in the first round of the Barbasol Championship Thursday, leaving the LPGA Tour pro’s goal of making the cut likely out of reach.

Lincicome was hoping to become the second woman to make the cut in a men’s event and the first since Babe Zaharias in 1945. She’s the first woman to get a PGA Tour start since Michelle Wie a decade ago.

Troy Merritt surged to the firstround lead with a 10-under 62, equalling the course record on the Champion Trace course at Keene Trace Golf Club, which is hosting the event for the first time.

However, much of Thursday’s attention focused on Lincicome, whose eight LPGA Tour victories include two majors.

Although Lincicome expected to struggle with the length of the golf course, her worst holes were two par 3s.

She missed her tee shot well right on the 191-yard seventh — her 16th hole of the day — leaving her a difficult pitch from a downhill lie in the rough. That came up short of the green and she ultimately made a triple-bogey 6.

“Probably one too many clubs,” Lincicome said. “Hit it short of there in case I do miss the green because over that green was absolutely dead.”

On the 205-yard 18th, her tee shot came up short in the water, leading to double bogey.

She played the other 16 holes in 1 over, making her only birdie on the par-4 third.

Lincicome would likely need a round in the mid-60s Friday to make the cut.

“If I can drive it like I did today and just make a few putts here and there, I think I’ll be back in good shape,” Lincicome said.