KOHLER WISCONSIN – Ai Miyazato got off to a solid start Thursday in her bid for an elusive first major on the LPGA Tour, carding a 2-under-par 70 in the opening round of the U.S. Women’s Open.
Riding high after rallying from five shots down to win last week’s NW Arkansas Championship, Miyazato overcame a difficult start after teeing off on the back nine in punishing heat at Blackwolf Run, and sits one shot adrift of American trio Brittany Lincicome, Lizette Salas and Cristie Kerr in a tie for fourth place.
Miyazato struggled with her putting on the giant greens on the Championship Course, bogeying the 11th hole and dropping another shot at the 15th after twice over-hitting her first putts to make the turn at 2 over.