Henderson, Wie soar in windy conditions
OLYMPIA FIELDS, ILL. — Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, and 2014 U.S. Open winner Michelle Wie overcame wind and a rocky opening nine holes Thursday, shooting 3-under 68s at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The second major event of the season on the women’s golf tour is again being played at the site of previous men’s major, in this case Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill., a well-do-do town of 4,500 near Chicago.
The tough conditions appear to favour the longer hitters. Henderson, whose older sister Brittany is her caddie this week, won her first major at Sahalee and Wie claimed her only major at Pinehurst.
“I was able to carry a couple of fairway bunkers, which is huge, because not a lot of players are able to do that,” the petite Henderson said.
“It’s tough out there, but you have to kind of laugh off the mistakes a little bit,” Wie said. “It’s a tough golf course.”
Chella Choi was the leader in the clubhouse among the early finishers with a 66.
Brittany Altomare, a shot back at 67, played the back nine first in 3 under, then added two birdies on the tougher front side.
“I think I like the tougher conditions better,” Altomare said. “I’m a pretty straight driver of the golf ball and I think that helps.”