Ko Jin-young '3 Under Par' vs Park In-bi '2 Under Par'... Tabatnakit Leads at '6 Under Par'

Major ANA Day 1: Tied 8th vs Tied 18th Start, Peng Sansan Tied 2nd, Jutanugarn Sisters Tied 4th, Defending Champ Im Ilrim Tied 8th

Ko Jin-young is teeing off at the 6th hole on the first day of the ANA Inspiration. Rancho Mirage, California, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] World No. 1 Ko Jin-young (26) is on a winning streak.

On the 2nd (Korean time), at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Rancho Mirage, California, USA (par 72, 6,763 yards), the first major of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the ANA Inspiration (total prize money $3.1 million), Ko Jin-young posted 3-under par on the first day, placing her in a tie for 8th. Rookie Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand) took a surprising lead with 6-under par 66, followed by Feng Shanshan (China) tied for 2nd at 5-under par 67, and Thai sisters Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn tied for 4th at 4-under par 68.

2019 champion Ko Jin-young made four birdies and one bogey. She started off well with a birdie on the 2nd hole (par 5), then improved her position with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes. After a bogey on the 13th hole (par 4), she immediately recovered with a birdie on the 14th hole (par 3), and made pars on the remaining four holes. She powered her game with an impressive average drive of 267 yards and a ‘stingy putting’ performance with 27 putts. She is three strokes behind the leader, aiming for her eighth career win after four months since the CME Group Tour Championship last December.

Ko Jin-young has held the No. 1 spot for one year and nine months since July 2019. She entered the LPGA Tour in 2018 after winning the KEB Hana Bank Championship as a non-member in 2017. She made a remarkable debut by winning the Australian Women’s Open and earned Rookie of the Year honors, then became a four-time winner in 2019. Last year, she stayed in Korea due to COVID-19 but returned late in November and secured her second consecutive money title after playing only four tournaments.

This year, she started early to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics on August 5. She has already made two top-5 finishes, including 4th place at the Gainbridge and Kia Classic last week. She has been benefiting greatly from refining her stamina and swing in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do. In this tournament, she is focusing not only on her challenge for a third major win but also on defending her No. 1 ranking. If No. 2 Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) wins, the world No. 1 ranking will change.

Patty Tavatanakit is making an approach shot on the 5th hole on the first day of the ANA Inspiration. Rancho Mirage, California, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

Tavatanakit swept up six birdies to dominate the top of the leaderboard. She debuted last year, with her best results being tied 5th at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open and this year’s Gainbridge. Feng Shanshan is chasing the leader by one stroke, entering the battle for the championship. ‘Diamond Resort Tournament Champion’ Jessica Korda is tied for 8th, 2014 champion Lexi Thompson is tied for 16th (2-under par 70), and ‘Gainbridge Champion’ Nelly Korda (all from the USA) is tied for 30th (1-under par 71).

For Korea, defending champion Im I-rim (31, NH Investment & Securities) is tied for 8th, aiming for back-to-back titles. ‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bee is tied for 16th with five birdies and three bogeys. Park Sung-hyun (28) and Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25, Daebang Construction) are tied for 30th, looking for opportunities. 2017 champion Yoo So-yeon (31), Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal), and Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) are tied for 48th (even par 72). Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) is tied for 70th (1-over par 73).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.