IF there’s one thing the golf writers like, then it’s a good whine. Once we’ve worked up a grumbling, muttering thirst, we don’t mind a fine wine too.
It was fitting, therefore, that Cristie Kerr served up something of a vintage round at Dundonald Links yesterday as she harnessed the lively elements with a six-under 66 on day one of the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open.
Kerr certainly knows her vino. “I’ve just passed my level one sommelier exam,” said the American, who runs her own winery and was almost as keen to blether about Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs as she was of recalling nicely flighted 5-irons into the 15th after finishing just a shot behind early leader, Karrie Webb.
One of Kerr’s own brand bottles retails at around $200 which is marginally more than this correspondent will fork out on the bargain bin plonk to wash down the egg and chips.
In the challenging, blustery conditions on the Ayrshire coast, it didn’t matter how you got the metaphorical cork out of the bottle as long as you found a way to get the job done.
“On the 18th, I blocked my approach but it turned out to be a good miss,” reported Kerr. “It went to the back of the green and from about 100-feet into the wind I two-putted for birdie.”
With plenty of perils and pitfalls on the links, Kerr’s considered, neatly crafted round was certainly deserving of a small, celebratory libation to toast a good day at the office. The conditions weren’t as bad as the previous day, mind you. “I played in the Pro-Am and it was just horrid and after four holes my team quit because they had no rain gear and were just soaking wet,” she said.
Kerr, the 39-year-old from Florida, has been a regular on the LPGA Tour since 1997 and continues to be a force to be reckoned with on the female frontline.
A victory at April’s Lotte Championship, the 19th tour title of her career, and five other top-10s this season illustrate her competitive longevity.
The two-time major winner certainly revelled in the robust links examination as she drew on her experience and golfing nous during a day which eventually saw rounds creep towards a painfully slow six hours.
“I think this is one of the top rounds I’ve produced over here,” said Kerr. “I finished second in the British Open at Lytham one year and that is a damned, tough course.
“You can never take anything for granted in links golf, though, so I’m not going to get too high about this round because the next day will be just as tough.”
It was a day for a special kind of vintage. Webb, another experienced campaigner, emerged later in the evening with a fine 65 that included a five birdie burst from the 11th as she charged home in just 30 blows.
“I prefer the term experienced rather than old,” said the 42-year-old Australian with a smile.
The rain had stopped and the sun had popped out by the time Webb teed-off but Dundonald still posed considerable menace.
“I looked at the leaderboard and saw Cristie was six-under and thought ‘what course did she play?,” added Webb, who has racked up a prolific haul of 41 titles including seven majors during a shimmering career.
“We got lucky that the rain had stopped but it was still just a case of hanging on in there on the front nine. After that, I took my chances coming in.”
Stacy Lewis, who won the Women’s British Open on Scottish turf at St Andrews in 2013, bolstered her early assault with a profitable push which featured a trio of successive birdies from her fifth hole in a spirited 69 to sit among the frontrunners.
Lewis will venture back to St Andrews next week for the British Open at nearby Kingsbarns and the 32-year-old is relishing a return to the Auld Grey Toun.
“It’s the first time I’ve been back to St Andrews since winning the British,” said Lewis, who also savoured Curtis Cup success in St Andrews as part of the USA team in 2008.
“I’ll definitely have a wander to the 18th and check out the Old Course. There’s something about the British Open. It seems to put me in a good mood.”
Inbee Park, the former world no 1 who won the Women’s British Open down the coast at Turnberry in 2015, posted a 69 while So Yeon Ryu, the current leader of the global rankings, had a 71.
Aberdeen’s Michele Thomson, who received a late invitation from the sponsors, survived a shaky start to post a battling one-over 73 and finished alongside Glasgow’s Kylie Henry, a double winner on the Ladies European Tour.
Catriona Matthew, a two-time winner of the Scottish Open, birdied the last in a 74, the same score as world No 4, Lydia Ko.
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