Ingrid Lindblad has been the best amateur golfer in the world for the past two years, specifically since Rose Zhang decided to go pro. The Swede has been a more than worthy successor to the American. She has won everything there is to win and a little more and now, she too, has turned professional. Specifically, she made the decision a month ago, right after the NCAA Nationals and playing the US Open. Today Thursday, in her fourth tournament as a pro (the first three were from EPSON) and in her first Major under this condition, she is one of the tournament leaders after the first day. That’s how to properly present a business card. The Lindblad buffalo is already here.
It is true that she had already given notice a couple of weeks ago in the second division of the LPGA. It was her third tournament as a professional and she already finished in second position. She was on an upward trend, getting used to her new life, and she has topped it off with a sensational card of 64 strokes on the first day of the Evian Championship. She shares the lead with the Scottish Gemma Dryburgh, Solheim golfer, and Patty Tavatanakit, Grande winner. Almost nothing. Gallons.
Lindblad has made seven birdies without a mistake. It took her a while to warm up, as her first birdie didn’t come until hole 16 (she started at 10), but from there the fireworks came. She signed seven birdies in the next ten holes. A spectacle.
At the top of the leaderboard are Gaby López (-6), Lydia Ko (-6), Hye Jin Choi (-6), Madelene Sagstrom (-5) or Anne Van Dam (-5). Further back are some of the theoretically favourites like Celine Boutier (-2), defending champion, Jin Young Ko (-2), Brooke Henderson (-2) or Nelly Korda (-2). It has not been the best start for the world’s Number One. She has a lot of rowing to do to clean up the disadvantage she has with the head.
The Armada has had a cold start to Evian. Carlota Ciganda (-1), with a birdie on hole 9, her last of the day, is the only one under par and has placed herself in 38th place, four strokes from the top 10 and only one above the cut, provisionally placed at PAR result. It’s time to row hard in the next few days to give herself a chance. In addition, Ana Peláez (PAR) will have to fight for the cut this Friday, as well as Marta Martín (+1), who managed to place two under par on the day after signing an eagle on hole 11, par 4. Finally, Azahara Muñoz (+2) leaves work for tomorrow to be at the weekend.
