Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Regardless of whether you consider the feat a grand slam or just an impressive run of major title victories, Inbee Park is trying to do something that no other professional golfer has ever done – win four majors in the same year. She continues her quest this week at the Old Course at St. Andrews for the Ricoh Women’s British Open. If she picks up the win this week it will give her four major titles this year. Park has put herself in good position after one round.
While there are still plenty of players out on the course with a lot of golf to play, Park is in the clubhouse at three under par. That puts her three shots behind current clubhouse leader Nicole Castrale. There’s a chance someone makes a run in the afternoon wave and takes over the first round lead, but it’s unlikely given the difficulty of the course and the pressure these women are under. Six under par after one round at the Open Championship is a hell of a score.
But I have a feeling Park isn’t concerned. She doesn’t mind the pressure. “At first, I felt the pressure,” Park said about the hoopla surrounding her Grand Slam attempt. “But then, you know, as time goes by, the more experience I get, I really started to get used to it. Once I get on the golf course, I don’t really think about it so much.”
Her round could have been markedly better than the three under par score that she posted. After posting a clean sheet on the front nine, she made the turn at five under and picked up another birdie at 10 to get to six under. Things fall apart a bit after there – she played numbers 13 through 17 in over, including a double at 16. She managed to get some momentum back with a birdie on the closing hole of her first round, however.
Park is in perfect position to make a run at her fourth major of the year over the next three rounds. With the way she’s been playing it wouldn’t be prudent to bet against her.
Carl Conrad is the Senior Golf Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter or add him to your network on Google.
