So Yeon Ryu Relies On ‘Deft’ Touch Around The Greens, Sits Tied For Second
A lone bogey was offset by six birdies for South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, whose 5-under-par 67 has her tied for second, just one shot back of leader Shanshan Feng at the CME Group Tour Championship, the season finale on the LPGA Tour.
Ryu, who is without a victory this year, but has notched top-5 finishes in her last two events – and five top-5s on the season – said she was just trying to stay positive throughout the day. She has been working on some swing changes throughout 2016, and just relied on the process, and having fun, Thursday.
“What I learned through this year, having like swing change this year, sometimes I just think about swing too much,” she admitted. “What I learned through that is I just rather focus more (on) imagination. You know, just keep (imagining) how the ball going to fly and what shot I am going to hit instead of where my hand is going to be. I was really (struggling) all year, but that was the biggest thing I was learning.”
Ryu, who has won three times on the LPGA Tour, said she also relied on her putting stroke to catapult her near the top of the leaderboard Thursday.
“Putting was much better. I still miss couple, but I'm (a) human being. I cannot really make everything. I will take that,” she said with a laugh.
Charley Hull Looking for First LPGA Tour Victory, Off to a Great Start
Charley Hull, the bubbly Englishwoman, was out early Thursday at Tiburon Golf Club and held the early lead before Shanshan Feng climbed to the top of the leaderboard late in the day.
Hull enjoyed some time off with friends at home – without touching a golf club – prior to coming to Naples, Fla. for the LPGA Tour’s 2016 finale. She had a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 Thursday.
“I’m happy with it,” she said of her round. “Obviously left a few out there. At the end of the day, I think I can go get them tomorrow.”
Hull said hanging out with her friends at home made her feel relaxed coming into the CME Group Tour Championship, and even a short break of four days got her batteries recharged.
“I wasn't even actually thinking about golf today. It felt good,” she admitted. “(I hung out) with (my friends) like whole of Friday and Saturday (last week). It was really, really fun. Had everyone round my house, so it was a really fun two days.”
Despite not having a victory this year, Hull said she was pleased with her season. She has four top-10 finishes in 2016 including a tie for second at the ANA Inspiration.
“I felt like I've had a good year. I just want to get a win in,” Hull explained. “I feel like this is my first full year on the LPGA Tour, so it was just an experience of being away from home a lot. I kind of understand how my schedule is going to go next year.”
Ryann O’Toole Relies On Coaches’ Presence To Sit Tied For Fourth
American Ryann O’Toole has notched just three top-10 finishes this year, but with her coach on-site this week, she’s been able to have a positive support system during the season finale in Naples, Fla.
“He manages to make it out to quite a few events, which is great,” said O’Toole, after an opening-round 68 has her two shots back of the lead. “He was in Mexico last week, and the week before that he flew out to Arizona and worked with me for a day and a half. It was great to get some work done and then head into these last two events.”
O’Toole admitted she was just trying to understand her misses on the course, and have the ability to self-correct and eliminate any big errors. Thursday, she made just a single bogey late in her round, offset by five birdies.
“I had the ball going a little right, so I kind of know how to bring it back a little bit,” she explained. “The worst is when you're out there and you have no idea how to fix it or stop the bleed. So I think the biggest thing is he's helped a tremendous amount with my golf swing and my things that kind of go off and how can I bring it back.”
Despite the very-nearly clean scorecard, O’Toole still felt like she left a few on the course today.
“Coming down the stretch, I had a six-footer I missed for birdie. I had a four-footer on 7 and I had an 8-footer on 8. All were birdies. They were great strokes. 6 I thought it is going to break right and it didn't. The other two didn't get enough speed,” explained O’Toole. “In all honestly, I feel like it's there. It's kind of nice sometimes when you leave a few out there just because it gives you that hunger for the next day.”
A Home Game for Mo Martin
Mo Martin, who captured the 2014 Ricoh Women’s British Open and nearly found the winner’s circle again at the same major championship this year, is hoping a little home cooking can inspire her to a victory at the LPGA Tour’s season finale.
Martin, who admitted Thursday her commute to Tiburon is “about 15 minutes,” practices at the host club for the CME Group Tour Championship a lot, and has played it, likely, more than most of the women on Tour.
“It's a home game for me. I moved to Naples from California about four years ago. Still have coaches and trainers and family in California. Last week I had good putting practice with Jamie Mulligan. He was a huge help. Back on my home turf,” she said. “Now I am in my own bed and have a huge contingent of family and friends and new fans following. It's awesome to have the support and hear the yells from the gallery.”
Martin opened the CME Group Tour Championship with a bogey-free 68, and sits just two shots back of the lead.
“I had a hot start and hot finish and I played beautifully. Really wouldn't do anything different. It's a great way to start. And to be in contention this week, the CME Group is an important sponsor for me is and it's an important week for the year, so I am just really happy with the start,” she explained. “Winning this tournament is still a huge deal, a huge purse. It's the last tournament of the year, so everybody wants to finish well.”
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