Brooke Henderson had just bogeyed the 12th hole at Sahalee and she stood at even par Thursday at the Women’s PGA Championship.
She came up with the ultimate bounce-back when she jarred her tee shot at the par three 13th and went on to play her last six holes four-under par. She finished at four-under and her 67 gave her the first round lead.
“Yeah, it was a pretty good day today. Yeah, the hole-in-one was awesome,” said the world’s fourth-ranked player.
Christina Kim, the American player who is resurrecting her game after a long slump, put herself in contention with a two-under par 69 that tied her for second with I.K. Kim.
Ariya Jutanugarn, who has won her last three events, is in the thick of it. She opened with a one-under par 70, one of five players at that number.
The women have a new Hall Of Fame member. Inbee Park had met all the criteria except one. She needed the 10-year membership requirement to make it official. Upon completion of her first round, she was swarmed by fellow players and family members as she jumped that final hurdle and will join the great players in the women’s HOF.
Park also kept herself in contention with a one-over par 72.
Lexi Thompson, the best American player, may have taken herself out of contention with an opening 75. Stacy Lewis wasn’t much better, she posted 73.
