As the sun shone on the LPGA Tour at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Lydia Ko rose to the occasion on her home course, shooting a 7-under 65 to take a two-shot lead after 18 holes. Ko started the day with an eagle on the first hole, a hole out from the fairway.
“I hit a really good drive and then I only had gap wedge into the green. I had my sunglasses on and I saw it bounce and kind of go forward and disappear. But there is a ridge behind, so I wasn't sure if it went over the ridge or went in. I didn't want to celebrate and then look dumb and the ball is like 30 feet long,” said Ko. “I was a pleasant surprise to see that the ball was down at the bottom of the cup.”
Ko went on to birdie six more times, with her lone mistake on the scorecard a bogey on No. 7. The 15-time LPGA Tour winner said that it felt like the best 18 holes she’s recorded since moving to Lake Nona.
“I think this is probably my best score around here. Normally when I'm playing I don't really count everything. The last few rounds I played with a few other players just before this week, so I kind of took my score, because you kind of have to get used to making sure that every shot counts,” said Ko. “I think sometimes when you're out there practicing, and especially by myself, you know that you can hit a second shot if you miss-hit one so you don't focus as much. So it was nice with those few rounds coming in and playing with other players just slowly getting back into competitive mode. But I think it's a pretty tricky golf course and the greens are subtle in some areas. I think that makes it extra tricky.”
But, everyone’s eyes were set on the first tee at 12:25 p.m., as Annika Sorenstam teed off for the first time in 4,479 days, alongside major winner Anna Nordqvist and defending champion Madelene Sagstrom. The LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member made four straight pars to start the day, but Sorenstam made the turn at 3-over after a triple bogey on No. 5.
“Score-wise I would loved to have tore been a little better. You know, if I look at it objectively it's one hole that really messed it up. I was trying to get back at it, but I can't remember the last time I had a triple or hit it out of bounds. So that certainly put a damper in the round,” said Sorenstam. “Overall I really had a good time. I thought the course was playing beautiful out there. Playing with Anna and Madelene was a highlight, and to have everybody here, family and friends, just doesn't get much better than that.”
Sorenstam, who also calls Lake Nona home, then went on to bogey No. 10. An incredible wedge shot at 14 was the highlight of her round, leading to the only birdie on the first-round card. “I was pleased. I took the driver there. I'm not as long as I used to, but I was aggressive I think off the tee and gave me a good chance for birdie there,” said Sorenstam.
Annika finished the day with a 75, the same score she recorded in her last round played in 2008 at the ADT Championship. In terms of nerves, she ranked today on the tee a “seven or eight.”
“I'm in a different place with my game. But it's also fun. When I talk to friends about this and they say, Well, this is how golf is for all of us. Well, it never was for me. It was relaxing and I felt confident out there,” said Sorenstam. “Today it's a little bit of a rollercoaster up and down and it makes you stay on your toes a little bit more than it used to.”
Two shots back of Ko sits the top-ranked American, Nelly Korda, along with Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Madsen and Korda both recorded six birdies and one bogey on the day. Seven players lie in wait at -4, including World No. 1 Jin Young Ko and two-time LPGA Tour winner, Gaby Lopez, to round out the top 10. Lopez, who played a round with Annika in the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions this past January, was especially excited after Sorenstam gave her advice in a practice round before the first day of play.
“You can see that her short game; putting is still on. That's something that she has in her veins and is going to shine forever,” said Lopez. “She said that she's probably not hitting it as far or straight as she was before, but at the end of the day, I'm going to say it again: She's my superhero. Her and Lorena are probably why I'm here. Being able to share this with them, with her specifically, is just unbelievable.”
Defending champion Sagstrom finished the first day at +5, after recording three bogeys and then two double bogeys in her last four holes.
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