Winner of the 2019 British Open in Woburn, Hinako Shibuno (photo) confirms that she feels very comfortable in this Major tournament. The Japanese is indeed in the lead at Muirfield thanks to a first lap completed at -6 (65). She is one point ahead of the American Jessica Korda while the Mexican Gaby Lopez and the Scottish Louise Duncan occupy the third step of the podium. Very solid start from Céline Boutier who takes 5th place at -3 (68). Perrine Delacour, in par (71), is content with 26th place.
L.V.
There are tournaments like this where everything seems to work for you. Hinako Shibuno, 23, can confirm this. Winner in 2019 at Woburn – on a wooded course, at the antipodes of the links usually chosen – for her first outing outside the Japanese professional circuit, three years later she offered herself the lead once again in the British Open thanks to a very solid card of 65 (-6 ). Despite the wind, which got stronger throughout the day to reach 40 km/h at times during the afternoon, the rookie on the LPGA Tour perfectly got out of the traps of the mythical by 71 of Muirfield16-time host of The Open between 1892 and 2013.
Benefiting from slightly more favorable weather at the start of the morning, Hinako Shibuno took the opportunity to quickly take the measure of the course by scoring three birdies on her first three holes. Before adding five more to his card, against two bogeys conceded on holes 4 and 14. This very good start allows him to count a step ahead of the eldest of the sisters Repeat, Jessica. Sa cadet, Nellysettling for a 70 (-1) and an inaugural 13th place.
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Without taking the slightest bogey – the only one among the 144 players entered this week – on this very difficult day, the Mexican Gaby Lopez67 (-4), took 3rd place on the leaderboard with the Scottish Louise Duncan. The latter entered the history of the tournament last year at Carnoustie by finishing in the top 10 despite her status as an amateur player.
Just behind, we find Celine Boutier, tied for fifth at -3 (68) with in particular two winners in Majors this year: the Australian Minjee Lee (US Open) and the South Korean In Gee Chun (PGA Championship). Thanks to a very solid game of irons (15 greens taken out of 18 in regulation) and a perfect putting, the Frenchwoman confirms her current good form on Scottish soil after her second place acquired last Sunday at the Scottish Open.
Perrine Delacour et Celine Herbin, the two other tricolors present in this 22nd edition of the British Open in Major mode, have had mixed fortunes. Author of two birdies at holes 4 and 5, the Picardy then conceded a first bogey at 7 before getting stuck at 14 and 15 with two new errors. Fortunately, a final birdie at 17 allows him to stay in ambush in 26th place in the par total (71).
Much more complicated first round for the Norman, 39, for whom this is the first Grand Slam tournament played this season. Starting when the wind was blowing the strongest (4:06 p.m. local, 5:06 p.m. in France), it quickly folded, turning to +3 after nine holes before posting a heavy 77 (+6) which sends it to 118th position. Four moves away from a virtual cut currently set at +2…
Le leaderboard
Photo : Oisin Keniry/R&A via Getty Images
