Michelle Wie credits new putting style for her fast start

It’s been an up-and-down few years for Michelle Wie as she’s battled injuries and less-than-stellar play.

But Thursday at the HSBC Women’s Champions, Wie was firing on all cylinders after an eight-birdie, two-bogey start has her leading by one. And she credits her new putting style – something that’s been a bit of an Achilles’ heel for her – for her success Thursday.

“I’m standing up now,” she explained of her new putting routine, away from the ‘tabletop’ stroke she tried through most of 2016. “I was home last week and the men were playing (at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic) and my coach, David Leadbetter, was there. I begged him to come over and watch me putt. We worked on it quite a bit. We made some changes to (my putting stroke) and hopefully it’s been working.”

Wie hit 17 of 18 Greens in Regulation Thursday and had 29 putts.

Anna Nordqvist stays steady, sits tied for second

With the HSBC Women’s Champions being a no-cut event, Anna Nordqvist will go another week without missing a cut, a streak she’s had going since 2015. It’s a credit to her consistent play, and she said Thursday after an opening round 5-under-par 67 that she’s been pleased with her play over the last few seasons, including Thursday in Singapore.

“I think that the more consistent you can be, the better it is,” she said. “I had a great season last year and obviously not missing a cut, just says a lot about my game, and that even my worst rounds are pretty decent.

Nordqvist made four birdies in her first seven holes Thursday before knocking her approach in the hazard on the par-5 8th and making bogey. That was the lone blemish on her card, as she bounced back with two more birdies on the back nine.

She credits her putting for her good start.

“I felt good, hit a lot of good strokes out there last week and just didn't really figure out the speed. So I worked a little extra on speed control this week, and seemed to be reading them very well,” she explained. “Once you start making a couple, putting just seems to be a little bit easier.”

Brooke Henderson’s hard work on her short game shining through

Brooke Henderson had a lone bogey on her card Thursday at the HSBC Women’s Champions, and her 5-under total has her just one shot back of Michelle Wie’s lead. The 19-year-old Canadian who won twice in 2016 said she had worked hard on her game from 100 yards and in in the off season, and it’s starting to pay dividends.

“I worked on distance control with my wedges, my ball-striking, and my putting. I worked a lot with my dad, who is also my coach, and my sister,” she said. “I’m just trying to read putts a little bit better, taking in all the factors, and seeing the front of the holes and seeing the line better.”

Henderson, who hasn’t gotten off to the same kind of start as a year ago, is eager for a good finish this week in Singapore, which, she said, is her favourite city to visit on the LPGA Tour.

“We love Singapore. It’s our favourite place that we travel to. We love it,” she stated. “Just being in a hotel room and looking out over the city is so cool.”

Paula Creamer hoping for good vibes to return in Singapore

A few years ago, Paula Creamer made the “putt heard ‘round the world,” a 75-foot eagle putt to win the HSBC Women’s Champions in 2014. Since then, she’s been struggling with form. But, she’s happy to return to the city where her last win took place.

“There are always great memories here. Doesn't matter it's a golf tournament, doesn't matter where I'm at, it's always brought up because of that putt,” said Creamer. “Singapore is I think one of my favourite places we go all year, so it's nice to be here.”

The 30-year-old fired a 4-under-par 68 Thursday to sit just two shots back of the lead. She said she feels good after working hard in the off-season.

“After last year, I was obviously not pleased with the way I performed and I worked really hard this past off-season,” Creamer explained. “This was good, after Bahamas, I still continued on working hard but really realized where I need to get better.”

Charley Hull riding wave of confidence in 2017

Englishwoman Charley Hull captured the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship to close out last year’s LPGA Tour season, and she’s riding the confidence from that victory into the early part of the 2017 season as well.

“I do feel a lot more confident. I feel happy with my game right now,” said Hull after an opening-round 3-under-par 69 at the HSBC Women’s Champions. “I feel like now I know what to do when I’m under pressure. I’m buzzing.”

Hull, who sits tied for 12th, made four birdies and just one bogey on Thursday from the New Tanjong Course of the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, a golf course she says suits her game.

“You can score low around this golf course. It’s scorable,” she stated. “It’s in really great condition, so I like it.”

Despite lipping out a few birdie putts early in her round, Hull said she was very happy with how her first round went.

“I feel like my game is in good condition,” explained Hull. “I left a few out there, but I’m happy with that. It’s a new golf course, haven’t played it before, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow as well.”

HSBC Women's Champions Opening Round News and Notes

Related Articles