A shaky finish tainted Park Inbee’s first round at the Women’s British Open on Thursday but a three under par 69 kept her bid for history alive at St Andrews.
Aiming to become the first golfer to win four majors in one calendar year, the 25-year-old South Korean made a brilliant start at the Old Course with five birdies in a flawless outward half of 31 and she moved to six under par after another gain at the 10th.
But four dropped shots in five holes from the 13th rather spoiled the day before she picked up another birdie at the 18th. The world No. 1 finished two strokes behind early pace-setter, Stacy Lewis. ‘It was a real roller coaster and I am a little disappointed,’ said Park.
‘I had a couple of bad drives and bad putts. I was a little bit nervous on the first tee because I knew what I’m playing for. But I birdied the first from 10 feet and started so well that I felt I was coping well with the pressure.’