A few days ago, Charley Hull announced a “new version of herself”. Among the goals she has set, the English player explained that she has made a bet with her boyfriend to quit smoking, at least for two months. Thirteen thousand pounds at stake if she doesn’t succeed.
So far, the new life is suiting her wonderfully. Hull starts like a rocket at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. Nine under par in a bogey-free round in her first 18 holes. The lowest round of her career on the LPGA Tour.
The Englishwoman, who started on the 10th hole, made the most of the four par fives at Whirlwind Golf Club and was especially brilliant at the start of the second nine with three consecutive birdies that definitely propelled her round towards the tournament lead.
The reality is that this first day has been a true birdie fest. Ten players have handed in a card of 65 strokes or less. However, with the honesty that characterises her, the two-time LPGA winner admits these are not her favourite tournaments: “No, I don’t like it when you can make so many birdies. I like the Majors because they are long, tough, and tight courses. That tends to be my favourite type of golf. I wish we played more like that on the LPGA. That’s why I always like the tougher courses, which are usually in the Majors.”
The Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen (-8) is following Hull just one stroke behind after signing an almost perfect eight under par, with one bogey and nine birdies. Right behind her is a pack of eight players who have handed in a card of seven under par at the start.
The World Number One, Nelly Korda (-5), returned to competition after not playing the Asian swing. She did so with a five under par round that allows her to start the tournament among the top twenty.
Of the four Spanish players present in Arizona, the best was Carlota Ciganda (-3). She plays at home, in Arizona, her state of residence, and opened her contest with a 69-stroke card. It was hard for the Ulzama native to get going, and in the first eleven holes, she was barely able to play to par on a course that offers many opportunities. However, from there, the Spaniard found better sensations and scratched four birdies on the course, which, along with a bogey, give her that initial three under par.
Azahara Muñoz (-1) is currently just one stroke off the provisional cut (-2). The Andalusian is looking to make it past the first of the season after a first round in which she alternated ups and downs with four birdies and three bogeys. It’s a shame she couldn’t take advantage of any of the par fives and came out with a +1 balance on those holes. She has plenty of room to fight for the weekend.
In a similar situation is Fátima Fernández Cano (PAR), who finished the first day level with the course. A bogey on her last hole of the day prevented her from finishing level with Aza. She will look to end the fateful streak of 17 consecutive missed cuts on the LPGA this Friday.
Julia López (+1) arrived at the tournament with very low energy after suffering from appendicitis just a few days ago and being hospitalised. The Malaga native started over par for the course. The 22-year-old is a fighter, but being in the tournament is already a triumph in itself.
Check the live results of the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass
