Ally Ewing claims one-stroke lead at Women’s British Open

LONDON – Ally Ewing has no experience of winning a Major in women’s golf, so her strategy this week is just to focus, eat and sleep well and hope for the best.

It worked well for her on Thursday, as she carded a four-under 68 to seize a one-stroke lead at the year’s final Major, the Women’s British Open in Surrey, England.

Ewing, 30, has won three times on the LPGA Tour. But her best finish in a Major was a tie for sixth in the 2019 Chevron Championship.

“It’s great to put a good first round together, but Major championship golf, you can never really lose focus,” she said. “So I’ll get some food and get a good night’s sleep and come back and take on the next day.”

The American collected five birdies against three bogeys before recording an eagle on the par-five 16th hole at Walton Heath Golf Club. She was one of 13 players to eagle on No. 16.

“I missed my drive just a little bit right, it got hung up in the rough, and it was a situation where the ball was sitting down a little bit,” said Ewing. “But I happened to see both my playing competitors hit shots and noticed how firm it was up in front of the green.

“So I actually was able to learn a little bit there. And it was kind of gouge-type shot and just let it chase, and it just so happened to chase to like five feet.

“It’s one of those where you just – you’re trying to give yourself an eagle chance, and it just so happened to be a five-footer. Definitely happy to walk away with an eagle.”

Ewing was the only player to record sub-par scores on both the front nine (one-under 34) and the back nine (three-under 34) in the first round.

She parred the final two holes to remain one shot ahead of five others – including 2019 US Women’s Open champion Lee6 Jeong-eun of South Korea and her compatriot Amy Yang. The others were France’s Perrine Delacour, Thai Jaravee Boonchant and Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark.

Allisen Corpuz, the reigning US Open champion, was part of a 12-golfer logjam at two under.

“It’s just tricky because the course just plays different every single day,” she said. “What we had today was nothing like the practice round. But every Major championship just requires good ball-striking, and I hit the ball pretty solid today and... made a few putts.”

Breakout LPGA sensation Rose Zhang shot a 72 while the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world ranking, Nelly Korda and Ko Jin-young of South Korea, both opened with 73.

France’s Celine Boutier, winner of the Evian Championship two weeks ago and the Scottish Open last Sunday, began her quest for back-to-back Majors with a 74.

Her putting was not at its best, but she rallied with birdies at the 16th and 17th to stay in touch.

While Ewing had an eagle on the 16th, it was the same for Jordan Spieth as he took the first-round lead on Thursday at the St Jude Championship, the first leg of the FedExCup play-offs in Memphis, Tennessee.

The American’s eagle at the par-five 16th hole at a rain-logged TPC Southwind vaulted him into the driver’s seat. He finished with a bogey-free 63.

Tom Kim of South Korea was in second after a 64, and Collin Morikawa and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo were tied for third at 65.

Top ranked Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy both shot 67 while FedEx Cup points leader Jon Rahm of Spain had a double bogey and four bogeys for a 73.

Morikawa, meanwhile, has pledged to donate US$1,000 (S$1,300) for every birdie he makes in the FedExCup play-offs to fire relief efforts in Hawaii.

The American, whose grandparents were born in the village of Lahaina, most of which has been destroyed, said: “It’s amazing how many things you take for granted really in life, and when you see that, it’s just heartbreaking.” AFP, REUTERS