Park seizes early US Women's Open lead

World number one Park In-Bee got off to a hot start in her quest for a third major title of the season, seizing the early first-round lead Thursday at the US Women’s Open golf championship.

The South Korean superstar, whose five titles in 2013 include major triumphs at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the LPGA Championship, had six birdies and one bogey in a five-under 67 on the par-72 Sebonack Golf Club course.

“I played very good today,” said Park, whose nearest rival in the clubhouse was Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, who bogeyed her final hole to cap a 68.

France’s Karine Icher, England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff, South Korean Yang Je-Yoon, American Natalie Gulbis and Colombian Mariajo Uribe were all on two-under 70.

“I hit the ball very good, didn’t miss many fairways or greens,” Park said. “I was able to take some pins today where the USGA was a little generous on us today.”

The US Golf Association — not known for generosity in the set-up of its Open championships — moved up the tees in anticipation of inclement weather, and Park, who played before any rain moved into the area, was able to take advantage.

“Instead of hitting, like, five-irons, we were hitting nine-irons, and that was making the course much easier,” she said. “I was actually able to go for some pins and give myself a lot of opportunities today. I made a lot of putts and didn’t leave much out there.”

Park opened her round with a birdie at the 10th hole, where she hit a wedge to about a foot and “just tapped in for birdie”.

She picked up another stroke at the par-four 14th, rolling in a seven-footer.

After sinking birdie putts of five and 12 feet at the first and second holes and a 15-footer at the fourth, she made her only bogey of the day at the sixth, where she was in the rough off the tee and wasn’t able to get up and down.

She bounced back with a birdie at the par-five eighth, where her chip from 30 yards left her a five-foot birdie putt.

Park is seeking to join an elite club of women golfers to win three major titles in a single season.

Babe Zaharias won all three majors in 1950, comprising the Titleholders Championship, Women’s Western Open and the US Women’s Open.

In 1961 Mickey Wright won the LPGA Championship US Women’s Open and Titleholders but was third in the Western Open designated a major that year.

In 1986, Pat Bradley won the Kraft Nabisco, LPGA Championship and du Maurier Classic but missed out at the US Women’s Open.

This year, the LPGA has designated five tournaments as majors: the Kraft Nabisco, LPGA Championship, US Women’s Open, Women’s British Open and the Evian Championship in France.