The AIG Women's Open, the final major of the LPGA season, kicked off Thursday at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England. And it was Jeeno Thitikul, the world number two from Thailand, who stole the spotlight with a flawless 7-under-par 64 to take the first-round lead.
Thitikul was in dreamland from the start, compiling seven birdies without a single bogey. Her bogey-free effort left her one shot clear of the field. Tied for second at 6-under are Shiho Kuwaki of Japan and Haeran Ryu of South Korea, both carding 66s. Kuwaki mixed six birdies with a bogey on the 8th hole, while Ryu also had six birdies and a bogey.
The chasing pack is tight, with several players lurking just behind the leaders. Among them, Germany‘s Leonie Harm opened with a 1-over 71, placing her tied for 26th. Harm’s round was a tale of two sides, as she balanced four birdies against four bogeys. Her compatriot Polly Mack shot a 72 and is tied for 37th.
With the wind and rain typical of the British links, conditions were challenging, but Thitikul made it look easy. Her precision off the tee and sharp iron play set up numerous birdie chances.