Lydia Ko one off the lead at the Women's British Open
Thursday 30 July 2015 20:37, UK
World No 2 Lydia Ko shrugged off an early start to move within one of the leaders after the opening round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Turnberry.
Despite a 3:30am alarm call this morning, Ko carded four birdies in succession from the second and added three further gains during a six-under 66 to stay within one of clubhouse leader Hyo-Joo Kim.
The 18-year-old is joined in a tie for second by America's Cristie Kerr, while Kim's blemish-free 65 equaled the lowest first round in tournament history.
"I pressed the snooze button a couple of times," Ko said of her early start. "It's never easy to wake up at that time, especially when in the States it's time to go to bed. But it was really good weather, the wind was fairly calm and we had fun out there."
Ko is seeking her first major title and warmed up for the event by contesting the Scottish Open at Dundonald last week, where she finished third.
"I've always said the British Open is the hardest week to prepare for," Ko added. "I had a couple of years where I came prior to the week and the weather was totally different, but I think it was good preparation playing the Scottish last week.
"To play links golf and in the wind, I think that was a good strategy. I've played solid the last couple of weeks so I just tried to trust my game and that's all I can do.
England's Florentyna Parker leads the home challenge after a four-under 68, one shot ahead of the group containing world No 1 Inbee Park.
Park, the runner-up in 2012, birdied three of the last five holes at Turnberry to push up the leaderboard, while defending champion Mo Martin is five shots adrift after a two-under 70.
Charley Hull is in a tie for 79th after a one-over 73, with former Open champion Karrie Webb looking unlikely to make the cut following a bogey-filled 80.
