'Career Grand Slam Challenge' Jeon In-ji "Good Start"... Shibuno Leads with 6-Under Par

First Day of This Year's Final Major AIG Women's Open: 3-Under Par Tied 5th, Jessica 2nd, Park Inbi and Choi Hyejin Tied 10th, Ko Jinyoung Tied 103rd

Jeon In-ji is teeing off at the first hole on the first day of the major AIG Women's Open. East Lothian (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "A good start."

‘Flying Dumbo’ Jeon In-ji (28) had many worries before the first day of the final major of this year’s LPGA Tour, the AIG Women’s Open (total prize money $7.3 million), held on the 5th (Korean time) at Muirfield in East Lothian, Scotland (par 71, 6,680 yards). Jeon said, "The weather was terrible during the warm-up," adding, "With heavy rain and strong winds, I thought it would be difficult to play well."

She also had no experience on Muirfield, a typical links course located on the coast. Jeon explained, "I haven’t played often on links courses," and "This is the first time I’ve played on a course with such strong winds," adding, "It felt really difficult." However, Jeon’s worries proved unfounded. The weather improved as the round began, and with the support of local golf fans, she had a great day. She marched forward vigorously toward the ‘Career Grand Slam,’ having won four different majors.

Jeon collected four birdies (one bogey) that day. She is tied for 5th place (3-under 68) along with Minjee Lee (Australia), C?line Boutier (France), and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England), among others. She started fresh with consecutive birdies on holes 4 and 5, and continued smoothly by adding another birdie on the 12th hole (par 4). The bogey on the 15th hole (par 4) was recovered with a birdie on the 17th hole (par 5), setting up for the second round. She was powered by 26 putts and a 100% bunker save rate.

She is three strokes behind the leader, a position from which a comeback is definitely possible. Of Jeon’s four LPGA Tour wins, three are majors. She won the US Women’s Open in 2015 as a non-member, and in 2016 at the Amundi Evian Championship, she set new records for the lowest 54-hole score (194), lowest 72-hole score (263), and most under par in a men’s or women’s major (21 under par). In June, she achieved a ‘wire-to-wire’ victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Jeon has already won three different majors and is close to completing the ‘Career Grand Slam.’ In women’s golf, the Evian Championship was elevated to major status in 2013, making a total of five majors. Winning four of these tournaments is recognized as a Grand Slam. Jeon said, "I played alongside Jennifer Korda (USA, 5-under, 2nd place) and Georgia Hall (England, 1-under, tied 13th)," adding, "Both players played really well," and smiled brightly, saying, "All three of us received good scores."

Hinako Shibuno is teeing off at the 13th hole on the first day of the AIG Women's Open. East Lothian (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multi-Vits Photo by Multi-Vits

2019 champion Hinako Shibuno (Japan) surged with a 6-under to dominate the top of the leaderboard. She is a rookie who debuted on the US stage this year. ‘Golf queen’ Park In-bee (34) and Choi Hye-jin (23) are tied for 10th at 2-under, while No. 3 Nelly Korda (USA), ‘Evian champ’ Brooke Henderson (Canada), Ji Eun-hee (36), and Yoo So-yeon (32) are tied for 13th, and Lydia Ko (New Zealand) is tied for 26th at even par. ‘KPMG champ’ Jennifer Kupcho (USA) is tied for 56th at 2-over, and No. 1 Ko Jin-young (27) struggled at 5-over, tied for 103rd.

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