Eight Swedes are in the starting field at Pine Needles in this year’s second major on the women’s side. The biggest focus in advance was, of course, veteran Annika Sörenstam, who among other things took home the US Open at Pine Needles in 1996. The 51-year-old, who actually stopped playing in 2008, secured a place in the competition by winning the US Open for seniors last year.
Sörenstam was one under par after two holes, but after another birdie and five bogeys she went around on three over par.
Instead, it was Ingrid Lindblad, who went in the same ball as Sörenstam, who surprised – and really. The 22-year-old started with three straight birdies and followed it up with two more the first nine holes. Two more birdies and just one bogey in the final nine means she is sensationally in a preliminary lead of a total of six strokes under par.
– She is fearless, says Annika Sörenstam at a press conference about Ingrid Lindblad.
Triple major winner Anna Nordqvist is split second. She was one over par after the first nine holes, but finished with five birdies the final nine and is four under par.