EVIAN-LES-BAINS – If you’re feeling a sense of déjà vu, you’re not alone.
Sung Hyun Park opened with an eight-under par, 63 at the Evian Championship for the second consecutive year to take the early lead on day one at the season’s final major. What she hopes this time around is that she’ll be the one holding the trophy, not finishing runner-up.
The 23-year-old Korean cruised to the early lead in France with the same cool and calm demeanor she’s showed throughout her young career. That self-assurance has already earned her two victories in her rookie season, including what will likely be the first of many majors with her win in July at the U.S. Women’s Open. Friday, she began her quest for her third win of the season and second major title by going out in 30 with four birdies and a chip in for eagle at the par five, 13th. Park started her day on the back nine.
“The distance was 25 meters, so I was deciding whether I'm going to do chipping or putting, and I think after I made the shot, I was surprised, as well,” said Park.
The Korean hit 16 of 18 greens and made it around in 26 putts, a far cry from the start she had on Thursday when she was six-over par on her first nine when play was suspended due to severe weather.
“When I usually don't play well, I just try to do better and focus on the game, and that's what I'm hoping for every round, and that's what I'm going to keep on doing and focus on the game,” said Park. 
Park leads the morning wave by two-strokes ahead of Moriya Jutanugarn at six-under par. Katherine Kirk and Anna Nordqvist sit at five-under par with Marina Alex, Jessica Korda and In-Kyung Kim at four-under par.
Jutanugarn is in the midst of her career best season with eight top-10s so far in 2017 and continues to work towards her first win on Tour. She posted the low round of the afternoon on Friday with a six-under par, 65 that included an outward nine, 30. With a late tee time on Thursday, Jutanugarn never had to hit a shot, but instead enjoyed the day off and was well rested for Friday’s round. She missed just one fairway on Friday and had an impressive 24 putts.
“These major events, the keys are fairways and greens this week. Just trying to give myself a chance for birdie. It looks like it's plenty of good chances out there today,” Jutanugarn said. “I rolled the ball very good, and just trying to keep going and like see a good shot and just relax on the golf course.”
All those close calls will soon pay off for Moriya who has followed in her sister, Ariya’s, footsteps. She too broke through for her first win after missing 10 consecutive cuts in her rookie season. Once Ariya won, the floodgates came flying open and she won four more times in 2016. She assures her sister, Moriya, the same will happen for her.
“Well, she says -- that's actually what I'm trying to do, just keep knocking the door, and when it's time, it's time,” Moriya said. “Just trying to keep playing solid, and she just says play happy this year, I see you playing better, and when it's time, everything comes together, it could be my week.”
This week, Korda is returning to the Tour for the first time since the Ricoh Women’s British Open as she’s been rehabbing an arm injury, which also forced her to miss the Solheim Cup. In the toughest of Thursday’s weather conditions, Korda sat atop the leaderboard at two-under par with So Yeon Ryu, before play was canceled later that day. Korda opened with a 67 on Friday to sit four-back of Park.
“Just pretend like it's Thursday. There's no difference,” Korda said about her mindset on Friday. “It sucked because I was playing so well yesterday, and some people weren't playing so well yesterday that are playing well today, and there's nothing I can do about that. I just need to concentrate on myself.”
Kirk also enjoyed the opportunity to hit the reset button after Thursday’s rainy and windy conditions. She posted a 66 on Friday, her low round at this championship, and sits just three-back of Park.
“Everything was fine yesterday. It's just easier conditions today,” Kirk said. “We've got no wind right now and the greens are soft, so you can pretty much throw darts at it. You'll see a bunch of good scores out there, the greens are really receptive right now, but they're rolling well, too, so you can make putts no problem.”
There’s a breathtaking view of Lake Geneva from the green at the elevated par five, 15th at Evian Resort Golf Club. From the green, impending storms can be seen rolling across the lake and as the rainy curtain draws closer to Evian-les-Bains, Geneva disappears behind its rainy mist. Thursday morning as Ai Miyazato waited on the green, she raised her putter and pointed it out towards the lake to show playing partner Yani Tseng what was rapidly approaching.
Within 10 minutes, the view went from picture perfect to apocalyptic. At 11:04 a.m. local time the opening round of the Evian Championship was suspended due to strong winds and heavy rain. When the forecast continued to worsen, along with conditions questionable for players’ safety, Thursday’s round was canceled and the championship shortened to 54-holes.
Friday morning, two-time Evian champion Ai Miyazato opened with a three-under par, 68 to kick off what could be a fairytale finish to her career on Tour as this week’s event is her final before retiring. In her final event, she chose to play alongside Yani Tseng, and Paula Creamer who was forced to withdraw due to a left wrist injury.
“Right now, nothing to lose, and no fear and just feel joy of my game, and that's definitely helping,” Miyazato said about her day. “I feel good.”
Creamer withdrew after the 12th hole due to a wrist injury.
Click here for current scores from the opening round of the 2017 Evian Championship.
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