Inbee Park chasing history at St Andrews
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Inbee Park suffered a late blip after a blistering start at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, as she bids to make history with a fourth consecutive major win.
The world number one from South Korea could become the first golfer, male or female, to win four professional majors in the same year.
Park finished her opening round at St Andrews on three under par, but she had been six under after 10 holes.
She dropped shots at the 13th, 16th and 17th, before a closing birdie on 18.
Stacy Lewis of the US held the early clubhouse lead on five under until compatriot Morgan Pressel roared in with a six under par 66.
Edinburgh’s Catriona Matthew, at 43 seeking a second Open win after her 2009 triumph at Lytham, shot a four under par 68 to lead the British challengers, alongside England’s Liz Young and amateur Georgia Hall, who outscored Kiwi amateur sensation Lydia Ho by a stroke.
America’s Ryann O’Toole shot 67 and is among five players, including Koreans Na Yeon Choi and Mi Jeong Jon, on five under, while former US Open champion Paula Creamer is four under par on a leaderboard dominated by seven players bearing stars and stripes and five the flag of South Korea in the top 16.
