Dame Lydia Ko went from eyeballing the leaders to in danger of missing the cut after a rollercoaster opening day of her 15th US Women’s Open in Los Angeles on Friday (NZT).
The world No 10 from New Zealand signed for a first round of three-over 74 at Riviera Country Club, eight shots off the pace set by Jennifer Kupcho of the United States.
Ko arrived with four top-10 finishes from nine LPGA Tour events this year, and potential to overtake the great Annika Sorenstam’s career earnings record of US$22.58 million (NZ$38.45m) if she could finish top-three this weekend.
That now looks a daunting task after Ko moved to one-under with her first birdie on 11, then double-bogeyed the next hole. Two more bogeys followed on 15 and 18 as she slipped to a tie for 87th, outside the top-half of the 156-strong field heading into the second round.
Ko’s best finish at a US Women’s Open was a tie for third in 2016. That and the PGA Championship, which tees off later this month, are the two women’s majors still to elude the 23-time winner on the LPGA Tour.
