The hottest player on Planet Earth, still is, and she proved it on day one of the Olympics.
Ariya Jutanugarn wasted no time in sending a message Wednesday to the rest of the field at the women’s golf competition.
The four-time winner this season fashioned a 65 to take the first round lead, just a shot ahead of former No. 1 Inbee Park and fellow South Korean S.Y. Kim.
“Today’s pretty good,” Jutanugarn said with her trademark smile flashing. “I just wanted to focus on what I have to do. I’m not nervous at all. I’m very excited.”
Her 65 could have been better had it not been for a poor tee shot and a missed short putt at the par three fourth that resulted in a double-bogey five. But she bounced back in a huge way with an eagle three at the next hole, the par five fifth. “That was my bad shot of the day, the tee shot,” Jutanugarn said of her shot at the fourth.
In all, she added seven birdies to that eagle. Coming in, she nearly drove the par four 16th with an iron and made her final birdie of the round there.
She was also reserved as well, knowing that No. 5 Park and No. 6 Kim, South Korea’s highest ranked players are right behind her.
Lydia Ko, the Gold Medal favorite, was having a so-so round. She was even par through 14 holes then jarred her second shot at the par four 15th for eagle. “That turned my day around,” Ko said. “I’m disappointed I didn’t take advantage of the last three holes,” said the world’s No. 1. She played those holes even par and after she finished admitted, “I was nervous,” with the Olympic setting.
It was a perfect day with no wind and sunny conditions. The field was plagued by slow play with the rounds taking more than five hours to complete.
Brooke Henderson, the No. 3 player and Canada’s hope for a medal, opened with 70. So did American Stacy Lewis.
Lexi Thompson, the USA’s best hope for a medal, kept herself in the medal mix as she opened with a 68. Thompson, perhaps the longest hitter in the field, failed to take advantage of the four par fives. She played them in even par.
Gerina Piller’s 69 kept her in contention.
In all, 36 of the 60-player shot even-par or better, 25 shot under par.
