By Charley Hull surged to an early lead at the AIG Women’s Open, posting a five-under 67 on a challenging opening day at St Andrews. Hull, who finished as the runner-up in last year’s event, registered six birdies and just one bogey, navigating the Old Course’s windy conditions to top the leaderboard.
Hull’s impressive round puts her one shot ahead of former major champion Ruoning Yin and world No. 1 Nelly Korda. Playing alongside Hull, Korda finished with a birdie-birdie flourish to stay within one stroke of the lead. Defending champion Lilia Vu, who completed the marquee group, is two shots back after an excellent round of 69.
Yin, battling the harshest winds in the morning, fired five birdies in a seven-hole stretch, momentarily leading by four shots and threatening the course record. However, bogeys on two of her last four holes brought her back to a four-under 68.
Hull responded to a bogey at the eighth hole by birdieing three of her next four holes and capped her round with a birdie on the 18th, securing her the outright advantage. Reflecting on her round, Hull expressed her satisfaction, noting the tough conditions and the challenge presented by her playing partners, Korda and Vu.
The windy conditions at St Andrews, anticipated to cause potential delays, did not disrupt play on the first day, though only a handful of players managed to post rounds under par. The leaderboard remains tightly packed, with several top players within striking distance as the tournament progresses.
