Nelly Korda on her way to a round of 60 today – photo Stan Badz IGF / PGA Tour

American and world number one, Nelly Korda, has opened up a commanding four shot lead at the Olympic Women’s event in Tokyo, a stunning round of 62 leaving her clear of Denmark’s Nana Koerstz Madden and Emily Kristen Pedersen and India’s Aditi Ashok.

First round leader, Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden, is another shot back in 5th place.

The round included nine birdies and an eagle, but, in search of a birdie at the last hole to become only the second woman to break the magic number of 60 in competition, she took double bogey to perhaps keep the outcome of the event alive especially given that the initial 72 holes may yet be reduced to 54 due to stormy weather in the forecast.

Once again, hot, sticky conditions faced the 60-player field but despite a relatively slow start to her round when just even par through her opening four holes, Korda opened up a six shot gap on the field over her next 13 holes before the disappointment at the last.

Had Korda been thinking about the possibility of a sub 60 round?

“I mean, no, not really,” she responded. “I wasn’t thinking about it at all I was like, oh, cool, I have a pretty good lead going into 18. But unfortunate that double on 18, but that’s golf and that’s just how it goes sometimes.”

Asked if she was thinking at all about the possibility of a reduced number of holes this week, Korda was quick to dismiss that thought.

“I’m going to have the mindset that it’s going to be a 72-hole golf course and whatever happens, happens. But I’m not going to set my mind on that it’s just going to be less than 72 because right now it is.”

Korda was asked if she felt any differently about this event given it is the Olympics compared to majors and other events she plays Korda

“I think I honestly feel the same. I’m wearing USA across my chest, I think that’s really cool, huge honor, but other than that I’m approaching it as I would any week. I think when people ask me if I prepare more or put more meaning to normal or majors or Olympics or whatever, I say no, because I go into any type of event with the same demeanor and the same goal.”

Hannah Green leads the Australians in a share of 8^th place at 6 under, Green’s round of 65 improving her from her overnight 23^rd place to a share of 8^th.

Given this is her first competitive event after a five week break back in Perth, Green was delighted with the improvement form her first round of even par 71.

“I felt like yesterday was just a matter of getting the rust off and it was pretty hot yesterday so I felt like it was hard to stay in the moment,” said Green.

“Today I gave myself a lot more opportunities for birdie and managed to roll a couple really important putts in and it kind of just gave me some motivation and some confidence with the putter. I hit the ball a lot better. I hit a lot more greens. Gave myself good opportunities. So, I did exactly what I wanted and hopefully I can keep doing that for the next couple rounds.”

There has been some discussion as to whether the event might become of a 54 hole event given the possibility of inclement weather as a result of the hot conditions but Green is for as much golf still to be played as possible.

“Yeah, I really hope it is four, I would like two more days to get back up there. I feel like now that I’ve had a good round I can see what’s capable and yeah there’s no reason why I can’t keep climbing. So I haven’t heard anything and I really hope that this weather stays away and let’s us have a 72-hole tournament.”

New Zealander, Lydia Ko, was positioning herself well until bogeys at her 17^th and 18^th holes for a round of 67 saw her slip from 5^th to 9th although it was an improvement of seven places from her overnight standing.

Minjee Lee struggled to fully recover from a bogey at her opening hole and although three birdies in her last six holes led to a round of 68 on a day where low scoring was the norm she was unable to make any progress from her overnight 23rd place despite a round of 3 under and is now tied for 24th.

“I feel like I had a lot of missed opportunities, definitely early in the round,” said Lee. “I couldn’t really get the pace of the shorter putts today for some reason, but finishing, I finished strong, so that balances it out, I guess.”

“I think if we were playing two more rounds then I could still have a chance. But, they said it might miss us, I just talked to the people inside. So, fingers crossed. But I do need to post some low scores.”

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Lydia Ko – photo LET

Lydia Ko leads the Australasians after round one of the Women’s Olympic competition in Saitama north of Tokyo, a 1 under par round of 70 in blistering hot conditions leaving her in a share of 16^th place and four shots from opening round leader, Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden.

Minjee Lee bogeyed two holes late in her round of 71 at the Kasumagaseki Country Club to be at even par and in a share 23^rd, a score equaled by her fellow West Australian Hannah Green.

New Zealand’s Ko, reached the turn at 2 under but a double bogey at the 11^th hole would prove costly in her quest to move closer to the lead before a birdie at the 14^th had her solidly placed after day one.

“There was some good and there was some bad as well,” said Ko reflecting on her round. “But I think when I was out of position for the most part I was able to recover really well and there was a lot of golf ahead of you, so even though that’s the case you don’t want to be making clumsy mistakes.

“So I think for the most part I was able to kind of tidy that up. Hopefully I’ll be able to tidy up the game a little bit better overall and just give myself more opportunities the next few days.”

“I’m very proud to represent New Zealand on a daily basis, playing on Tour,” said Ko when asked the feeling the Olympics provides to represent the country in which she was raised. “Representing New Zealand in 2016 was probably one of the biggest highlights of my life, not as a golfer but as a person as well. So I cherish those moments, I even got the Olympic rings tattoo with the fern.

“So I feel like New Zealand is just always there and even though I don’t get to go back home a lot, people always support me and I feel the love, so I’m just trying to hopefully do everyone back at home all the Kiwi’s proud and even if things don’t go well smile and just have a good time because it a huge honor to be able to represent your country.”

Lee recovered from an early bogey to reach 2 under par on two occasions but bogeys at the 14^th and 17^th holes saw her finish at even par.

“I feel like I had a lot of birdies, but a lot of bogeys as well,” said Lee reflecting the frustration of her day. “So if I can get rid of the bogeys then I would have posted a good score. So that’s golf. I think I’m just going to take it day by day because it’s so hot. Yeah, hopefully take the positives into tomorrow.

“It was bloody hot. Yeah, it was really hot. I feel like I felt it most, I mean I felt it more today than any other days. Maybe because we were playing 18 holes not like the other day where I played nine. But I think everybody’s in the same boat, so it’s hot for everyone so I can’t really complain, I guess.”

When asked if she was content with a round of even par, Lee responded, “Yes and no. I mean, I have high expectations for myself, so I think that’s why I’m so disappointed in the even par, but if you look at it overall I think it’s probably not too bad of a start. So, yeah, I’m like 50/50.

Green has not played a tournament in five weeks and early in her round it showed with a double bogey at the 3^rd hole but she did well to recover for a round of 71 to share 23^rd place.

Green was happy how she had managed her round, “Yeah, I mean I felt like I played a lot worse than the score. So to have even par pretty happy with. I have no idea where that’s on the leaderboard. I wasn’t really watching too much out there because it’s only round one.

“But I missed a lot of greens and a lot of fairways today so I think that’s something I got to fix on the range after this round. Hopefully, yeah, hit more on the next few days.

“I definitely felt the rust. I don’t think I’ve ever been one to really get, have a great round the first round back. I think I’ve always kind of been the person that climbs on the weekend. So I hope tomorrow that I can hit more greens, hit more fairways and just make easy birdies and slowly climb up the leaderboard

Green also struggled with the hot conditions especially have spent the last few weeks in a Perth’s winter.

“I think it’s even more difficult because I come from Perth and we’re in our winter. Not that it really gets that cold, but because it was rainy it was cooler than usual. I have to adjust to this and, yeah, I’m not the greatest in humidity, I’ll admit that.

“I certainly feel it a lot more than I think others do. So I think I did a good job today with my hydration I just need to find the shade as much as possible but not with my tee shot.”

Sagstrom leads by one over the world number one golfer, Nelly Korda and India’s Aditi Ashok. Sagstrom is currently ranked 75th in the Rolex Rankings and is a winner of one title in her five seasons on the LPGA Tour.

Madelene Sagstrom with caddie / manager today after heat and humidity cost her regular caddie from seeing the round out

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With a first major (Evian) now to her name, can Minjee Lee become Australia’s first Olympic Medal winner? – photo LET

Following the impressive debut Olympic showing of Cameron Smith at last week’s men’s Olympic golf competition, two further Australians have their chance to become the first Australian to win a medal of any colour when Minjee Lee and Hannah Green tee it up at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

Lee, fresh from her breakthrough major victory at the recent Evian Championship, gets the chance to improve on her 7^th place finish in Rio in 2016 while for Green she debuts in the event.

With the confidence and knowledge that her significant win in France has created, Lee must now enter the event as one of the favourites while Green, who also has a major title on her resumé, has played nicely in 2021 with three top three LPGA Tour finishes in 2021.

Green, who has just returned form a five week break from competitive golf, replaces Australia’s second representative in Rio, Su Oh, Oh now outside the top 100 in the Rolex rankings while Green stands in 17^th place and Lee 8^th.

Both Lee and Green are feeling upbeat about their current form and their chances this week.

“I think we have great chance, we’re both in form,” said Green in a Tuesday media conference. “Minjee obviously won in her last event and I feel like my game is as good as it has been, I just need to make sure that I can score. So I don’t see why we can’t have a good week and we’re looking forward to it.

“I think the course is great. I had the chance to watch the men on Sunday for a few holes, so it was good to see them how they play it. But I’ve seen all 18 now and I think the biggest thing will be getting used to the heat as I have come back from Australia and it’s getting pretty chilly there.”

Lee was equally enthusiastic about what lies ahead; “I think I’m probably in the best place that I’ve been in terms of golf and mentally and just seeing the confidence place I think I’m in a really good place coming off the major championship,” said golf’s latest major championship winner.

“It was nice to have a week off to see my brother (Scottish Open champion Min Woo) and just kind of regroup. I’m just really excited to be here. We have such a great team with us and it’s been a lot of fun so far and just really looking forward to getting tournament started.”

Lee was asked how she felt so soon after her breakthrough major victory and how that might impact on her performance this week.

“After I won Evian that was just, like obviously I had a celebration last week and I sort of — I let myself rest a couple days and things like that. But I think in terms of preparation the last couple days I practiced like normal and sort of put that behind me.

“Obviously I’m taking the positives out of that week, but I feel like every week I go in it’s like a new week, a new opportunity, so I’m just going to take it as a new week. So I’m not — yeah, I’m pretty focused, yeah.

Due to Covid issues and an enforced quarantine period back in Australia it has been five weeks since Green last played (she did not play the Evian won by Lee) which is perhaps not the ideal preparation but the success of fellow Australians in both men’s and women’s golf of late has kept her motivation high.

“I guess that’s probably the hardest thing,” she said. “I had two weeks in a hotel and so about two and a half weeks back in my hometown, Perth. And, unfortunately, I didn’t get to play at all while I was home because the weather was so bad, which is something I didn’t really factor in as we are usually pretty lucky in Australia.

“So yeah, in the five weeks we have had winners on PGA TOUR, European Tour, LPGA, so seeing everyone win really motivated me and I wanted to get back out here as soon as possibly.

“So it’s been nice. Kind of felt like an off-season almost coming back and seeing everyone again. So I’m definitely motivated and I hope that I haven’t collected too much rust in these past five weeks but, yeah, we’ll see what happens.”

Australasia’s other representative is the world number ten, Lydia Ko, who won the Silver in Rio and whose form in 2021 has included a victory in and two runner-up LPGA finishes.

The New Zealander was also 6^th at her most recent start at the Evian so she brings realistic expectations of an improvement on her second place finish behind Inbee Park in Rio.

“Obviously, with everything that’s happened in the last year and a half I think as athletes we’re all grateful for the opportunity to be able to represent our country and be here in Tokyo.

“I know that this wasn’t an easy decision or process for the games to be on itself, so, yeah, I’m super excited.

“Shanshan, Inbee and I (the three medal winners in Rio) actually played together at the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year and after that I didn’t think that we would have the first two days’ parings as the gold, silver, and bronze medalists all playing together. Which is exciting and hopefully we’ll be able to represent the Rio medalists well and kind of start off the games in a solid way.”

Ko relishes representing her country and the chance to play the Olympics.

“I always say that technically the silver medal, I came second to Inbee, is probably the most prestigious and honourable silverware that I got.

“It meant like a win for me and I think the great thing about being here at the Olympics is no matter if you end up standing on the podium at the end of Saturday or not, just being here and to be able to represent your country and to say that you’re an Olympian – a select few athletes are able to say that and that’s a win itself.

“So I think we’re all champions just being here, so I’m just trying to enjoy and be grateful for my second opportunity at the Olympics.”

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Hillier- photo Getty Images

A cheque for €43,500 was just reward for an excellent week for New Zealander Daniel Hillier following his share of third place at the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorm Castle & Massereene, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland.

Hillier, who led through 36 holes before a third round of 70 saw him slip off the pace, worked himself back into winning contention after an outward nine of 33 on Sunday. He was still amongst the title contenders before bogeys at the 16^th and 17^th holes cost him a winning chance.

The 23 year old Wellingtonian finished two shots from the eventual winner, Daniel Gavins, and earns the biggest cheque of his 20 month professional career and while there was no doubt joy in that there was some disappointment that he was unable to convert a winning opportunity.

“I felt pretty good out there today for the most part,” said Hillier. “Obviously a pretty poor end to the week, but that’s the way things go sometimes, and I’m sure that I’ll be in contention a lot more in the future, so just going to learn from it.

“It’s one of those things, you’re obviously going to feel nerves and all that. If you’re in contention you want to win, and the adrenaline is going to be there, the nerves are going to be there.

“I think just looking back on a couple of those shots near the end, just a little more focus on the process, I think, because I was getting a little bit ahead of myself I think towards the end, and obviously put me a little bit behind.

“Apart from that it was a really good week, so yeah, I’m happy.”

Hillier has won events on the Charles Tour in New Zealand and had a stellar amateur career, winning the New Zealand and Australian junior titles in addition to two New Zealand Amateur Championship titles.

Hillier has competed on the European Challenge Tour in 2021 although this particular tournament was a European Tour event and as a result of his success this week will earn a start in next week’s Hero Open in Scotland, another European Tour start.

Blake Windred led the Australians in 22nd place while Maverick Antcliff was next best when 26th.

The women’s event, played concurrently, was won by Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukaarn who recovered from a triple bogey during her final round to win after a playoff with American Emma Talley.

Sarah Kemp headed the Australians when she finished tied for 8th and earned a cheque for US$32,000 in the joint LPGA / LET event. Fellow Australian, Su Oh, was 11th.

For Kemp it was a continuation of a great year on the LPGA Tour, an elevation she puts down to improvement on the greens.

“It’s really solid,” she said referring to her form in 2021. “I’m just putting great. Like I holed some really good momentum par saves this week, obviously some long birdie putts. But that’s kind of been the difference this year. Just some few extra putts dropping.

As to the format of two events being played concurrently Kemp is a fan.

“I love it. I wish we could do more of it. Obviously never missed a Vic Open when it’s been co-sanctioned with the guys. It’s just fun. Like I love — I follow them all the time. I follow the Australian boys and got to see them on the range this week.

Yeah, it’s a lot of fun. I hope we can do more of it?”

Cameron Smith at the Olympics-  photo IGF

Australia’s Cameron Smith has continued his improvement at the Tokyo Olympics, building on his opening two rounds when adding a third round of 66 at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, in Saitama, Japan, moving from his 19^th place through 36 holes to now be in a share of 11^th and just five shots from the lead held by American, Xander Schauffele.

Smith’s bogey free round has him within striking distance of the leader but the problem he faces is that he not only has to get past Schauffele, but several of the world’s leading players if he is to challenge for a medal of any colour, if not a gold medal.

“I thought 5-, 6-under today would get me close enough to where if I had another good one tomorrow I could be in the running for a medal,” said Smith after his round. “So, yeah it was nice to go out there, especially after a pretty poor start to kind of hang in there and shoot that.

“It’s going to take a good one. I think if I can get out to a start like I did on those first couple of days, make a few birdies in the first four or five holes I think I’ll be looking at it a bit differently. So I just need to go out there and do that.”

Smith began the third round seven shots from Schauffele but with three consecutive birdies in the middle of his front nine he had moved to 7 under for the tournament and within four of the lead.

He would birdie the 11^th and 13^th holes but Schauffele extended his lead to five over Smith and by one over his nearest rival Hideki Matsuyama with a magnificent birdie at the last, paving the way for a fascinating final day tomorrow when the American takes on the local hero Matsuyama.

Matsuyama became a folk hero in his home country following his victory at Augusta National earlier this year and it is hard to comprehend the enormous pressure he will face in tomorrow’s final round, but he has proven himself capable of carrying the weight of a nation before and might yet do it again.

Marc Leishman was round in 72 to be tied for 49th in the 60 man field while New Zealand’s Ryan Fox is 55th.

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