Ally Ewing out to emulate Brian Harman with British Open win
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US golfer Ally Ewing says she is confident in her game, as she seeks to win her first Major title.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Inspired by fellow American Brian Harman’s British Open triumph, Ally Ewing said she aims to emulate his success and win her first Major championship in the women’s equivalent event at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England.
Harman led by five shots at the halfway stage at 10-under before eventually winning by six strokes at Royal Liverpool in July to land his first Major title.
Ewing is on the same score and holds the same lead after Friday’s second round,
“I don’t know him personally, I obviously know his story,” said the 30-year-old, a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour. “It’s pretty cool – southern guy, I’m southern, just a little Mississippi girl. It is inspiring what he did.
“I think a lot of people... I wouldn’t say they were rooting against him but a lot of people were rooting for other people. I can kind of attest to that in some sense but yeah, certainly happy with where I am through 36 holes.”
Ewing also revealed she is a keen hunter like Georgia native Harman.
“For the most part my family, my husband and I, we do mostly deer hunting, so venison,” she said.
“I know it’s not going to be interpreted well by the media, but it’s something I do. You put food on the table that way... It’s a means to eat.”
When asked what it would mean to win her first Major, she added: “It would be huge. It’s something I’ve obviously circled as something I want to accomplish in my career.
“I’ve had possible chances to do that (before), I’ve been in the last group, so for me it’s just going to be (about) leaning on that a little bit as well as the confidence I have in my game right now.”
Home favourite Charley Hull (68), American Andrea Lee (68) and Japan’s Minami Katsu (69) were the closest challengers in a share of second spot on five under.
Ewing had a magical run of four birdies in a row from the sixth and her only mistake came at the tough closing hole where she drove into the rough and took a bogey five.
“I was definitely in the zone when I had that string of birdies,” she added.
“I didn’t even realise that I had four in a row until I signed my card. But I just tried to stay in the here and now.”
Hull, who finished joint second in the US Women’s Open in July, raised her hopes of a first Major win with a flawless four-birdie round.
“It’s always great playing in front of the home fans,” said the 27-year-old, who lives close to the course.
“Everyone is really nice and I could see my nephew cheering me on. I’m five behind so I’ll just have to go out and try to make as many birdies as possible.”
Defending champion Ashleigh Buhai shot 73 for three over and missed the cut by a shot. REUTERS, AFP
