Park conquers nerves in her bid for history

By: Doug Ferguson Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Friday, Aug. 2, 2013

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Wearing a black rain suit and a soft smile, Inbee Park looked calm as ever standing before the imposing Royal & Ancient clubhouse just moments before she teed off Thursday in the Women's British Open.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/08/2013 (4683 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Wearing a black rain suit and a soft smile, Inbee Park looked calm as ever standing before the imposing Royal & Ancient clubhouse just moments before she teed off Thursday in the Women’s British Open.

Only after her unsteady round of 3-under 69 did Park reveal perhaps the biggest surprise at St. Andrews.

She was nervous.

CP
Mark Duncan / the associated press
Tiger Woods was two shots off the lead. — CP Mark Duncan / the associated press Tiger Woods was two shots off the lead.

“But then once the round started, and especially playing so good in the first few holes, that really gave me a lot of confidence,” Park said. “I didn’t feel much pressure when I was playing during the round. I’m just glad that it’s already started and I got the first round under my belt.”

She wound up three shots behind Morgan Pressel and Camilla Lennarth of Sweden, a solid start to what should be a fascinating week at the home of golf.

Park’s pursuit of history looked more like a high-speed chase when the 25-year-old South Korean made six birdies in 10 holes. Three poor tee shots, two three-putt bogeys and one double bogey from a pot bunker on the back nine made her realize there’s a reason no golfer has ever won four majors in a single year.

“Felt like a roller-coaster today,” Park said.

She was only too happy it finally stopped with a six-foot birdie on the 18th hole, ending a slide in which she dropped four shots in a five-hole span

Park was tied for 18th on a day in which 73 players broke par.

Pressel, one spot from making the Solheim Cup team this week, caught a break when the rain and wind never materialized in the afternoon. She made seven birdies in a round of 66 that gave her a share of the lead with Lennarth, who birdied the 18th.

Stacy Lewis, the former No. 1 player in women’s golf, shot 31 on the tougher back nine for a 67 to be part of a large group that included former U.S. Women’s Open champion Na Yeon Choi and Nicole Castrale. Another shot behind were Paula Creamer, Catriona Matthew and Lizette Salas.

— The Associated Press