Thitikul edges into Women's PGA Championship lead
Women's PGA Championship first-round leaderboard:-4 J Thitikul (Tha); -3 M Lee (Aus); -2 R Takeda (Jpn); H Ryu (Kor), Y Noh (US), S Lee (Kor)Selected others: E N Korda (US), L Maguire (Ire), L Thompson (US), +1 G Hall (Eng); +3 L Ko (NZ); +4 M Rhodes (Eng)
Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul shot a 68 to edge into an early lead at the Women's PGA Championship.World number two Thitikul, 22, recovered from a double bogey at the fifth with six birdies to finish on four under par at the third of this year's five LPGA majors.Australia's Minjee Lee was one shot further back after a rollercoaster three-under-par 69, which included seven birdies and four bogeys.World number one Nelly Korda is four off the pace as she went round in a par 72, which included two birdies and two bogeys.Ireland's Leona Maguire is also on level par, while England's Georgia Hall carded a 73. England's Mimi Rhodes, who has enjoyed three wins on the Ladies European Tour this season, was making her debut at a major and hit a four-over par 76.
"I think my putter went really well today," said Thitikul, who is yet to win a major."In the front nine we had a lot of breeze going and more than the back nine, but [I made putts at] seven, eight, nine which boost the confidence up making the turn to the back nine."I really told myself just be patient and focused on the next shot, because [in the] majors you [are] going to miss anyway. What a way to bounce back. It's more important."The event is taking place at the Fields Ranch East course in Texas, with Lee and Korda citing the heat as a factor to contend with. "I just kept telling my caddie, can you give me another water, can you give me another water," Lee said."I don't think we could have enough [water] out there. It's really hot."Korda added: "It's hot; I'm still cooling down right now."I'm pretty happy with my first round in the conditions. It definitely takes a toll on you, the Texas heat."
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