Yuka Saso was off to a good start once more after carding a solid 4-under 68, highlighted by an eagle on No. 12, to take a share of fourth place to end the first round of the 2021 AIG Women’s Open at the Carnoustie Links in Scotland, Thursday.
With world no. 1 Nelly Korda and Madelene Sagstrom setting the tone early with a 5-under 67, the afternoon flights, which included Saso, had some work cut out for them. To which the 20-year-old Filipino delivered.
An early hiccup happened in No. 2 as Saso dropped a shot to go 1-over, but she eventually went into the red by the end of the front nine with back-to-back birdies off Nos. 5 and 6.
Needing something huge to zoom into the top of the leaderboard, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion joined two other golfers in decimating No. 12 with an eagle.
Links golf required shots to be low and rolling, but Saso flicked the ball with a little more height off the fringe, enough for it to bounce and eventually roll into the hole for the two-shot finish of the said hole.
Another birdie, this time at No. 14, was added into the day’s work as the world number 8 almost joined Korda, Sagstrom, and Kim Sei Young at the overnight lead.
Nonetheless, Saso, along with three others — including amateur and hometown bet Louise Duncan, were not far behind as they are just one stroke adrift from these three golfers.
Saso and playing partners Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson tee it up for Round 2 starting at 8:09 a.m. (3:09 p.m., Manila time).
