Five-time winner Webb two strokes behind Down Under

ADELAIDE: Karrie Webb’s bid for a sixth women’s Australian Open title began with a five-under 67 at The Grange, leaving her two strokes behind first-round leaders Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Hsu Wei-ling.

English player Ewart Shadoff had a bogey-free 65 in calm morning weather yesterday which included four consecutive birdies from the seventh through 10th holes.

Wei-ling had it tougher in the afternoon but still managed five back-nine birdies.

“Perfect conditions ... I hit some really close shots and holed some good putts,” Ewart Shadoff said.

“Overall, I just hit the ball well.”

Ewart Shadoff is ranked 59th in the world and has made steady improvement in recent years without winning a tournament as a professional. She has twice represented Europe in the Solheim Cup.

Webb has not played full-time since 2017.

She spent four months in Australia last year at her Townsville, north Queensland home base, and when she teed it up last week in Barwon Heads in the Vic Open, it was her first competitive outing for almost eight months.

The 44-year-old Webb played just eight tournaments last year and missed the cut in the US Open and British Open. She won previous Australian Opens in 2000, 2002, 2007, 2008 and 2014.

Webb, who was tied for third with Madelene Sagstrom and Bronte Law, started on the back nine yesterday and was four-under through eight holes. Her only bogey came on the par-four sixth hole.

“It’s not easy to get off to a good start and be in position from day one and not feel like you’re catching up on Friday,” Webb said.

“I hit some good shots and saw some putts go in so I felt really comfortable there for about 11 holes.

“Then it got a little scratchy there through the middle. But I hung in there and managed to birdie the eighth, which was my second-last hole, which is a nice way to finish. I made the most of the opportunities I had.”

Defending champion Ko Jinyoung was among those tied for sixth with a 68, as were Americans Kristen Gillman and Jackie Stoelting.

Former No. 1 Lydia Ko had four bogeys in a 71.

Current No. 1-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn had a difficult opening round with two double bogeys and two bogeys on her way to a 76.

British veteran Laura Davies shot 74, as did American Morgan Pressel.