Hyo Joo Kim breaks major championship record
Published:
Taking a four-stroke lead in the process, the 19-year old South Korean’s 10 birdies led her to break the previous women’s record of 62 set by Minea Blomqvist in 2004 and matched by Lorena Ochoa in 2006.
Kim’s record also eclipses the men’s record low major championship round, which is held by multiple players at 63.
“I just wanted to play well and I putted great,” Kim said.
Kim went out in 30 and came back in 31 to sit four shots ahead of Australian Karrie Webb and five ahead of Mi Jung Hur. American favourite Michelle Wie was forced to retire after 13 holes with a finger injury.
The US Open Champion was making her comeback after injuring her finger, but the same affliction prevented Wie completing the course.
“I was having so much fun out there,” she said. “I wanted to keep playing, but it got to the point where it was too painful.”
Round One Leaderboard: HJ, Kim (Kor) -10; Webb (Aus) -6; Hur (Kor) -5; Petttersen (Nor) -4; Lincicome (US) -4; Uribe (Col) -3; Icher (Fra) -3; Granada (Par) -3; Smith (Aus) -3; Schreefel (Ned) -3.
