As a bitterly cold Thursday evening in St Andrews set in, Charley Hull warmed the hearts of an expectant crowd huddled around the 18th hole of the Old Course to snatch the first-round lead at the AIG Women’s Open.
The Englishwoman thrived in a star-studded group, draining a birdie at the last to fire a stunning five-under-par round of 67 to lead American superstars and major champions Nelly Korda (-4) and Lilia Vu (-3The 28-year-old, who leads Korda and China’s Ruoning Yin by one stroke, believes her time is now. That elusive major, after finishing runner-up twice last year, may arrive at the home of golf on Sunday if she can maintain this blistering pace after a near-flawless round of golf, packed with six birdies and just one blemish, a bogey at the 11th hole.
While the trio displayed immense skill and pinpoint accuracy, their patience was also tested by a ponderous pace, resulting in a round that exceeded six hours following the punishing conditions from earlier in the day.