Big hitters start fast in second LPGA major
Michelle Wie launched a 3-wood into swirling gusts and toward the 18th green, wondering if the shot had enough steam to get there. A shift in the wind took the guesswork out of the equation. “It died down and I got a little surprise,” Wie said. “I got all the way there.”
The 215-yard shot rolled within 30 feet of the flag to set up a 2-putt birdie and a 3-under 68 that left Wie 2 shots off the lead during the opening round yesterday in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She wasn’t the only longhitter to benefit from windy conditions and a tough front nine at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club. Defending champion Brooke
Henderson matched the 3-under start, which left her 2 back of Chella Choi and Amy Yang. Choi shot a 66 in the morning, and Yang was on the 18th hole at 5-under with a chance to grab the outright lead when play was suspended at 7:01 p.m. because of dangerous weather in the area. Brittany Altomare shot a 67, and Joanna Klatten also was 4-under with two holes left. Joining Henderson and Wie at 68 were Alison Lee and Su Oh. Kim Kaufman and Emily Pedersen also were 3-under late in their rounds. “I was able to carry a couple of fairway bunkers, which is huge, because not a lot of players are able to do that,” Henderson said.
The second major on the women’s tour is being played at the site of previous men’s majors, where big tee shots can pay big dividends. Henderson won her first major at Sahalee last year, and Wie claimed her only major — the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open — at Pinehurst.
Lingmerth out quick
David Lingmerth is one of a few players in the Quicken Loans National field with memories to draw on at TPC Potomac (Md.) — and they’re the best kind of memories.
The winner of a 2012 Web.com Tour event on the tight, tricky layout near Washington, Lingmerth once again relied on his accuracy off the tee to shoot a 5-under 65 and take the first-round lead.
The 29-year-old Swede, who doesn’t have a top 10 finish on the PGA Tour this season, hit 12-of-14 fairways, which tied for best in the field. Starting on the back nine in the afternoon, he made five birdies in a seven-hole stretch beginning at 13. . . .
Paul Waring shot a 7-under 64 at the French Open in Guyancourt, Frane, to take a 2-stroke lead in the first round.
The 279th-ranked Waring rolled in seven birdies and was bogeyfree on Le Golf National course that will stage the 2018 Ryder Cup.