Yuka Saso opened her post-Tokyo journey strong with a solid 5-under 67 to take a share of second place after the first round of the 2021 Scottish Women’s Open at the Dumbarnie Links, Fife, Scotland, Thursday.
Coming in as one of the favorites being the highest-ranked golfer in the field, Saso turned it around in the backside after some hiccups in the first nine holes to end in the said spot along with Netherlands’ Anne van Dam and flight-mate Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand.
“Not much wind this morning, so that really helped. Coming into the last six [or] seven holes, we’d be able to catch up. I hit some pretty good shots today and hit some putts, so I hope to keep this going,” Saso said.
The 20-year-old had some resistance at the start of the round as the greens of the said course are more suited to the rolling style of play, something she is not used to.
“In America, we kind of have to go high and try to stop the ball but here it’s like you have to be more like rolling a low ball and trying to chase it to the hole. That’s the shots that I’m not really used to,” the world no. 8 told The Scotsman.
“After watching [Stacy Lewis] doing that, I practiced those shots yesterday and that helped. So yeah, I’m really thankful and hope to play with her more so I can learn from her.”
The back-to-back birdies off Nos. 2 and 3 were canceled eventually in the sixth hole, pushing Saso back to square one. Another mistake to end the front nine, this time with a bogey, saw her at even par heading into the clubhouse, as it likewise negated a birdie in No. 7.
Nonetheless, the Filipino-Japanese sensation got her groove on her return to the course, carving five birdies at the back nine.
Two pairs of back-to-back birdies in Nos. 10-11 and 15-16 propelled Saso into one of the leaders. Another birdie in the 13th hole rounded up her day at 5-under and in a tie of second place with Suwannapura to close out the morning session, as van Dam joined them later that afternoon.
Hometown bet Michele Thomson registered a course record of 7-under 65 to pace the field and go two strokes ahead of the aforementioned trio.
Saso will try to continue this strong start when she takes the course for another round on Friday at 12:54 p.m. (7:54 p.m., Manila time).
