Minjee Lee starts well at Murifield
Minjee Lee – file photo LPGA / Getty Images
Minjee Lee has made a strong start in her quest to add the Women’s British Open to her US Women’s Open title in 2022 with an opening round of 68 at Muirfield in Scotland and finds herself in a share of 5th place and three shots from the leader, Hinako Shibuno of Japan.
Lee took a while to get warmed up today and it was not until the 12th hole that she was able to move under par for the round. She finished off with two further birdies for her afternoon round. Tomorrow she will have the benefit of an early tee time (7.58).
“I made really quite a few good up-and-downs on the back nine and to be 3-under the back nine, I think is quite good considering like 14 and 15, they play really tough.
“You know, I feel like the wind got up — it was pretty similar to yesterday when I played in the Pro-Am, so I think kind of the — I got a little used to the conditions while I was out there yesterday.”
LPGA Tour rookie, Stephanie Kyriacou, from Sydney, did best of the other Australasians in the field with a round of 70 to be tied for 13th while Hannah Green and Lydia Ko had rounds of even par 71, Whitney Hillier 72 and Su Oh 77.
Hinako Shibuno in action today – photo R&A via Getty Images
Shibuno, the 2019 champion in this event, birdied her opening three holes today and would go on to record a total of eight birdies in her round of 65 as she looks to add a second consecutive win on the LPGA Tour for Japan following her countrywoman, Ayaka Furue’s success in the Scottish Open last week.
Shibuno leads by one over Jessica Korda, who, despite significant success on the LPGA Tour, is yet to record a victory in a major.
