Cassie Porter best of Australasians as Thitikul leads AIG Open
Cassie Porter gets her opening round underway – image Richard Heathcote R&A via Getty Images
Women’s golf’s number two and three players, Jeeno Thitikul and Haeran Ryu are leading and tied for second, respectively, after the opening day of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Thitikul ahead by two over Ryu with Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki sharing second place with Ryu.
23 year old, Thitikul, who, despite spending some time in the number one position on the Rolex World Rankings has yet to win a major title and in eight previous starts in this event has recorded only one top ten, took advantage of the slightly easier afternoon conditions on day one to move ahead of Ryu who has won the last two major championships, the Women’s KPMG PGA and the Amundi Evian Championship.
Kuwaki has yet to win on the LPGA Tour, but she is a prolific winner on the Japan Ladies Tour and is playing in just her second AIG Women’s Open, having missed the cut on debut last year.
Thitikul has spent a total of 40 weeks as the world number one and now sits behind only Nelly Korda at the top of the women’s game.
Conditions on day one at Royal Lytham & St Annes were breezy all day, but the wind strength eased in the mid-afternoon as can often be the case on British seaside courses, but her round was nonetheless impressive.
Eleven Australasians teed it up on day one, and it would be Queensland’s Cassie Porter who was the only one to break par, her round of 1 under 70 having her in a share of 17th place after birdies at her opening two holes set up a solid start to the event, her second appearance at the AIG Open.
23-year-old Porter is now into her second season on the LPGA Tour and has recorded three top tens this season with a best of 5th (twice).
“It was good, she said after her round. “I think I had zero expectations at the start of the day, because last year’s British was a bit of a tough one for me especially,” said Porter.
“But, yeah, just went out and had fun. Just thought, you know, what’s the worst that can happen. Yeah, ended up having a good day which I’m stoked about.”
When asked to describe her journey in professional golf, Porter added: “Yeah, it’s been quite the journey actually. I feel like I learn something new every day, but more just I think I just learn something new about myself every week, which is nice, and you can carry that on over.
“It just honestly just shows all your true colors out here. Shows obviously the highs, lows. It really tests you. It’s fun, the challenge of that, too, and just finding a way to get through it.
“I think that’s my biggest thing I’ve done over the last year or so.”
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and Australians Hannah Green and Robyn Choi are at even par after their opening rounds of 71 and tied for 26th place.
