Lottie Woad takes top billing in her stride as Japanese set pace at Open
In only her second tournament as a professional, dealing with the pressure of being the bookmakers' favourite and handling the expectation and hype after her extraordinary run of successes last month was never going to be easy, but Woad took it all in her stride.
An enthusiastic and packed crowd greeted her group on the 1st tee and she responded with a shy wave. Typically composed, she matched the defending champion, Lydia Ko, and the 2023 winner, Lilia Vu, with a birdie.
Woad is in form having won the Irish and Scottish Opens in July
DAVID CANNON/GETTY IMAGES
However, she was forced to dig deep and rely on her solid short game and clutch putting after struggling on the front nine, before closing with a birdie on the par-five 18th. The 21-year-old, who won the Irish Open and Scottish Open last month — the former while still an amateur — described her round as 'a bit mixed', adding: 'There were a few poor bogeys on the front nine which definitely could have been avoided. I'm not very satisfied, but it's one of those rounds that could definitely got away from me.
'I'm happy with how I hung on in there. It's not a course that's going to give up a lot of birdies, so you can't start attacking pins because you're frustrated. Having a quick turnaround is a good thing for me. Going out and making a good start to get good momentum. Finishing with a birdie definitely makes me feel better.'
While Japanese players set the pace on the opening day, with Rio Takeda and Eri Okayama joint leaders after recording five-under-par rounds of 67, England's Mimi Rhodes finished strongly and is two shots off the lead. The Wake Forest University graduate has won three times in her rookie year on the Ladies European Tour and after missing the cut in her past two outings displayed a welcome return to form. The 24-year-old estimated that she was cheered on by 25 to 30 relatives.
'I'm enjoying my golf and I was just trying to stay in the moment and soak it all in,' she said. 'Those three wins put a lot of pressure and expectation on me and I'm learning how to deal with it. I'm trying not to think of the negatives or what everyone else thinks.'
Takeda showed why she topped the money list on last year's Japanese tour with a pace-setting round of 67
OISIN KENIRY/GETTY IMAGES
Seasoned followers of the women's game are accustomed to seeing a leaderboard packed with Korean players but it took most fans by surprise to note Japan's strong presence on the opening day, with six players in the top ten.
Okayama, 29, plays on the Japan LPGA and is in a purple patch, having led after the first round in three of her past five starts. Japan has been reaping the reward for an excellent junior programme as the players have achieved significant wins on the JLPGA and the LPGA Tours. Of the 17 Japanese this week, five are rookies on the LPGA Tour, with last season's rookie of the year, Mao Saigo, capturing her first LPGA win and major title at this year's Chevron Championship.
The Japanese tour hosts 37 tournaments a year with a prize fund of £675,000 each week, and £100,000 for the winner. Last year's money-list winner, Takeda, banked £1.25 million. There is a good chance one of her compatriots could also join the millionaires' club this weekend. -5 Okayama (Jpn), Takeda (Jpn); -4 Yamashita (Jpn) Selected others -3 Chun (Kor), Rhodes (Eng), Saigo (Jpn); -2 Harry (Wal), Korda (US), M Lee (Aus), Thitikul (Tha); E Woad (Eng), Maguire (IRL); +1 Hull (Eng), Ko (NZ); +2 Vu (US)
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