Lexi Thompson (-4) is the first leader of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after delivering a card of 68 strokes in the tournament’s debut at the Sahalee Country Club. Three weeks ago, a few hours before the start of the US Open, the Florida golfer announced her retirement from golf. She will hang up the clubs at the end of 2024, at just 30 years old. Since then, it seems as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, at least judging by her results. She finished second last week at the Meijer Classic, after losing in the playoff against Lilia Vu and now she is taking the lead in the third Major of the season. Retirement seems to have done her wonders.
And the thing is, it makes sense. Expectations have always been a gigantic burden in Lexi’s life. She was America’s child prodigy, the one who was supposed to shatter all records, the role model, the big hitter… It seemed that every time she came second it was a failure. Her face on the golf course has always reflected tension and stress, especially in recent years. After her announcement, it seems like she has been liberated.
Lexi has been the best in a tough Sahalee Country Club, in the state of Washington. From tee to green she has been superb and no one has left them closer than her on average. She has perfectly understood the bucolic and treacherous cedar forest where the course is located. She made six birdies, three of them in the first three holes, and three bogeys, and she has taken the first position with a one-stroke lead over Patty Tavatanakit (-3), another big hitter, and two over a legion of players made up of Nelly Korda, Hinako Shibuno, Madelene Sagstrom, Caroline Inglis, Amy Yang, Arpichaya Yubol, Charley Hull, Leona Maguire, Celine Boutier, Allisen Corpuz and Akie Iwai. Korda, the European girls from the Solheim Cup (four to be exact), Shibuno, who has been playing very well for a while, stand out.
The classification has started off very nicely, with big names at the top and just twenty players under par. Demanding course, difficult conditions, the wind has blown and it took playing very well to beat the course. Korda has quickly removed the thorn of her bad US Open and the European Armada is showing its teeth again after a period of lethargy.
As for the Spaniards, mixed fortunes. Azahara Muñoz (+1) has signed off on a notable start, just five strokes off the lead in a very tight table. The Malaga native made three birdies and four bogeys, struggling from tee to green, but handling the short game very well. Meanwhile, Carlota Ciganda (+6) had a tough day at the office, with six bogeys, a double bogey and just two birdies. It was torture from the tee. She struggled to get it on the fairway and from there the problems multiplied.
Precisely, Carlota’s +6 could well be the cut this Friday, with the 70 and tied. Right now it’s at +3 and it’s not out of the question that tomorrow it could double. The Navarrese is not the only one who had a hard time in the first round. There are Alison Lee (+9), Stacy Lewis (+9), Sophia Popov (+7), Marina Alex (+6), Danielle Kang (+6), Albane Valenzuela (+6), Nasa Hataoka (+5) or Rose Zhang (+4).
