Tied 5th Ko Jin-young "I Followed Other Players' Plays"... Tied 10th Jeon In-ji "The Pressure Has Disappeared"

Ko Jin-young (left) and Lydia Ko are playing together at the 4th hole on the first day of the Amundi Evian Championship. Evian-les-Bains, France = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The smooth sailing of 'Number 1' Ko Jin-young (27).

On the 22nd (Korean time), at the Evian Golf Club (par 71, 6,527 yards) in Evian-les-Bains, France, the first day of the fourth major of the LPGA Tour, the Amundi Evian Championship (total prize money $6.5 million), Ko Jin-young finished tied for 5th place with five birdies and no bogeys. She expressed satisfaction, saying, "It feels like I shot in the 60s for the first time in a while," and "There were some regrets, but I think I did my best."

"This course has small greens and requires very precise iron shots," Ko Jin-young explained, "I practiced a lot while I was in Korea, and I think some of what I practiced came out on the course, so I am thinking positively." Ko Jin-young has experience winning this tournament in 2019. She had playoff battles with 2015 champion Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and 2017 champion Anna Nordqvist (Sweden).

"The players I played with today all know the course well because they have won this tournament," she said. "I also know the course because I have won, but I think I watched how other players played and followed their lead." She is aiming for her second win of the season since the HSBC Women's World Championship in March. "I prepared hard in Korea and came to Europe, so I want to do my best. I hope to play well on the course as much as I practiced," she said with anticipation.

Jeon In-ji (28), who is aiming for her second consecutive major win, also started comfortably tied for 10th place (4-under 67). Jeon In-ji said, "My confidence has increased a lot since winning last month's major KPMG Women's PGA Championship," and added, "On the other hand, I felt some pressure during the round. I think I finished the first day well, so I can prepare for the next round with a lighter heart." She pledged, "I will continue to enjoy playing over the remaining three days."

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