Major champion Anna Nordqvist shot her best first-round score of the season on Thursday, recording a seven-under 65 on day one at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give to sit in a tie for third and two back of the lead. The nine-time LPGA Tour champion went bogey-free and carded seven birdies in the first round, including four in the last five holes. This is Nordqvist’s sixth appearance in the Meijer LPGA Classic and the second-best round she’s ever recorded at Blythefield – she shot a tournament-low 64 during the 2018 edition of the event, ultimately earning her best finish (T4) – but, the Swede thought there should have been even more under-par scores on the card.
“Got impatient a little bit around the turn because I had so many opportunities and just didn't go in,” she said. “I felt like I hit good putts and would just miss high or just miss low. I feel like I held it together pretty good, especially when I got impatient. I had a good finish. I played good all day. I really did.”
Nordqvist has made the cut in every event she’s played this year but hadn’t earned a top-20 finish until the U.S. Women’s Open presented by ProMedica. The three-time major champion found her form at Pine Needles, finishing T6 alongside Bronte Law. Nordqvist says finding that consistent form has been the problem for her this year but those struggles weren’t showing during round one at Blythefield Country Club.
“I’ve just been consistent over the last couple weeks,” she said. “I mean, really only hit one bad shot today, so if you're never too far away I don't feel like you can get yourself in trouble. But consistency has always been one of my keys, and I think I get in trouble when I get a little bit out of consistency.”
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