HUGEL-JTBC LA Open. Inbee Park Leads.

Inbee Park, South Korea, leads after the first round of the inaugural HUGEL-JTBC LA Open at Wilshire Country Club in California.

Inbee Park / getty

Inbee signed for an opening round of -5 under par 66 to lead the  inaugural HUGEL-JTBC LA Open by one shot.

Inbee made a putter change this week;

“Last week was just an awkward week where I missed a lot of short ones, and I wasn’t really comfortable with the putter.”

“I just wanted to have a different look, so I just changed it.” 

“I played really well out there. Especially being the new golf course. I didn’t know how it was going to play.”

“The course played really good. Really suited me. I putted really well out there, so I was really happy with that.” 

Marina Alex, USA, is alone in second spot after her first round -4 under 67, she also had a great day with the putter;

“I putted really, really well today.”

“I made a lot of the putts that I shouldn’t, I wouldn’t have expected to make.”

Seven ladies share third place, another shot back at -3 under par, which includes major champions Pernilla Lindberg and Lexi Thompson, with Caroline Inglis, Aditi Ashok, Moriya Jutanugarn, Eun-Hee Ji and Emma Talley.

Lexi also made a small change to her putting routine, but would not reveal what is was;

“I don’t want jinx it.”

“I changed a little thing that slipped my mind that I was working on earlier in the year.”

“I’m definitely rolling it a lot better. There is more of a roll to my putts now.” 

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Valero Texas Open. Grayson Murray 1st Round Leader.

Grayson Murray, USA, is the first round leader af the Valero Texas Open at  the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.

Grayson Murray / getty

Grayson carded a -5 under par 67 to lead the Valero Texas Open by one shot at the end of the first round, after missing the cut last week;

“Just the fact I did give myself enough opportunities today for birdie, it took a lot of pressure off.”

“I was hitting each club ten yards shorter than I normally do, and you can’t play like that because your caddie is trying to give you a number and a club, and you keep hitting these bad shots or keep coming up short.”

“I got back to the basics with the setup and the takeaway, got my club in a better position at the top, which kind of frees my downswing.”

“Then I can start going at it.”

Five players share second spot at -4 under after opening rounds of 68, Chesson Hadley, Keegan Bradley, Ryan Moore, Billy Horschel and Matt Atkins, all USA.

Billy and Ryan were bogey free today, where only 34 players in the 156 man field managed to break par.

Billy was happy with his round;

“Struck the ball really well, something that we’ve been working hard on.”

“Could have been better, I didn’t really make anything out there today. But I’m happy with it.”

“I’m a big momentum player. I’ve got to get the train moving forward.”

“I’ve always been a guy who gets on a little roll, get that train moving and jump in that winner’s circle.”

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Trophée Hassan II. Bradley Dredge and Alvaro Quiros Lead.

Bradley Dredge, Wales and Alvaro Quiros, Spain, lead the Trophée Hassan II tournament at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Morocco.

Bradley

Bradley and Alvaro shot opening rounds of -5 under par 67 to top the Trophée Hassan II leaderboard in Morocco, where the layout measures a mammoth 7,557 yards.

Bradley enjoyed a good day on the course;

“A good day, very pleased to be leading the tournament after round one. I played nicely all day so delighted.”

“It’s just a matter of keeping the ball in play and shot-to-shot, as in looking where the pin positions are and then taking into consideration whether or not you can go for the pin or play away from it.”

“I haven’t played a great deal this year. I feel as though it’s progressing quite well at the moment so I’m quite pleased the way it’s trending, as a lot of guys say.”

Alvaro enjoyed a great day;

“I have to recognize that it was a great round of golf.”

“The score is good but I will say that the level that I displayed today from tee to green, it’s been unbelievable.”

“I know that five under is a very good score but it looks like it’s a little bit short for the game that I have displayed today.”

“Tomorrow is going to be a completely new day, and it’s only the second round of a four-round tournament.”

Tied in second place are Oliver Fisher, England, and Joakim Lagergren, Sweden, with rounds of -4 under 68.

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Lalla Meryem Cup. Nicole Garcia is 1st Round leader.

Nicole Garcia from South Africa is the 1st round leader of the Lalla Meryem Cup at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Morocco.

Nicole Garcia / getty

Nicole carded -4 under par 68 to lead the Lalla Meryem Cup by two shots on day 1 in Morocco, with some good putting helping;

“The grass on the courses here is quite similar to back home and I think that does help, especially around the greens.”

“Every year I’ve had a few good rounds here and a few tough ones, so I’m hoping it’s going to be more consistent.

“I started off a little rocky and I don’t think I hit a green until maybe the sixth hole, so I had a lot of up and downs and some good saves and that got the momentum going.”

“On the back nine, I hit a few good shots, but the putting was good. I’m very pleased, especially after the front nine.”

Stacy Bregman, South Africa, with Isi Gabsa and Laura Fuenfstueck from Germany share second place at -2 under after their first rounds of 70.

Stacy owes her friend Nicole a trip to Mauritius, so she needs to win here;

 “I owe her a trip to Mauritius because I won an event and the order of merit.”

“Hopefully I can win here and still take her to Mauritius and somewhere else, or if she wins, she can take me somewhere.”

 “I had a good start but had to fight a bit on the last couple of holes.”

“I think on the last shot into the green I hit it a bit too good, so it ended up being a bit long but I’m happy with two under.”

 European Solheim Cup team member Florentyna Parker, who played with HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, Chairman of the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association during the Pro-Am on Tuesday, was a stroke further back in a large group of ladies on -1 under.

Defending champion Klara Spilkova, from the Czech Republic opened her defence of the title with a +1 over par 73 .

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RBC Heritage. Maiden Win For Satoshi Kodaira.

 

It was a PGA Tour Maiden win for Satoshi Kodaira of Japan in a sudden death play-off against Si Woo Kim, South Korea for the RBC Heritage title at Harbour Town Golf Links.

 Satoshi Kodaira / getty

Satoshi, -5 under 66 and Si Woo, even par 71, finished tied for the RBC Heritage lead at -12 under par. They went into a sudden death play-off which Satoshi won with a birdie on the third extra hole, the par three 17th.

Satoshi did not sound too  impressed with the Plaid Jacket, his words translated by an interpreter; 

“I will probably not wear it regularly,  but this is special.”

“I wasn’t really thinking about winning.”

“I wasn’t that nervous on the last putt, compared to the first two putts on 18.”

“This is a stage I’ve been dreaming about, and having this opportunity to play the PGA TOUR full time is a dream come true.”

Si Woo suffered from a bad day with the putter;

“I tried my best, and the putts didn’t drop. It is what it is.”

Tied in third place at -11 under par were Bryson DeChambeau, -5 under 66 today and Luke List, +1 over par 72, both players  from the USA.

54 hole leader Ian Poulter, England, suddenly started making bogey’s, five on the back nine, finishing T 7 at -9 under par, with a last round +4 over 75.

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Open de España. Jon Rahm Wins Home Tournament.

Jon Rahm of Spain wins his home tournament the Spanish Open.

Jon Rahm / getty

Jon won the Spanish Open with a final round -5 under 67 and a winning total of -20 under par, a two stroke winning margin over his nearest rival;

“It’s such a satisfying feeling, when I made the decision to come straight from Augusta it wouldn’t be to just show up and walk around, I wanted to win this tournament.”

“I’ve been blessed to be national champion from 16 to all ages in Spain.”

“To round my amateur and pro career together in this way and win the last one I had to win and join that prestigious list of Spanish winners, it’s hard to explain how good it feels and how satisfying it is.”

“It’s been amazing. It’s truly been the hardest Sunday I’ve ever had in any tournament that I’ve won because the crowd wanted it so much and I wanted it so much.”

“You can tell how excited everybody is, I felt that tension, I felt that stress, I felt everything magnified.”

“They played a huge part, I came for them mainly so I’m just glad I can win this one for the Spanish people.”

Long time leader of this tournament Paul Dunne of Ireland could only record a last round of -1 under par 71, to finish in second place at -18 under par;

“I felt like I hit the ball great, mostly my short game let me down a little bit.”

“I was hitting it long and straight so I feel good going into the next few weeks.”

“Obviously disappointed not to win but it is what it is.”

Nacho Elvira, Spain, claimed third place at -17 under, his last round -1 under 71 did not give him any chance of winning;

“A little bittersweet, it’s been a fantastic day.”

“Playing against Jon Rahm is always tough, he’s a great player and I just came up short this time.”

“The crowd was probably the best I’ve seen, it’s fantastic to be able to play at home and play with this crowd.”

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LOTTE Championship. Brooke Bounces Back 4 Big Win.

Brooke Henderson of Canada bounces back for a big four shot win at the LOTTE Championship at Ko Olina Golf Club in Hawaii.

Brooke & Trophy

Brooke carded a final round -3 under par 69 to won the LOTTE Championship by four shots at -12 under par, making some good putts on the way in;

“The wind conditions were incredible and I think Brit and I did a great job.”

“My sixth win on Tour continues to be a dream come true.”

“Watching Pernilla  win a major was a lot of motivation. She showed a lot of grit and I thought ‘I could do that too’ so I owe a lot to her.”

“Fortunately I was able to overcome the shaky putting at times. I just tried to be calm and relaxed and made a couple really nice putts coming in.”

Azahara Munoz, Spain, was in second  place on her own at -8 under par, a good last round of -5 under 67 elevating her up the leaderboard;

“I’m hitting the ball the best I could remember.”

“I think I’m back to 2014 when I last contended, but I have gone through quite a few health issues.”

“I’m playing really well right now so I’m quite excited to see that.”

Tied in third place, all at -7 under were, Inbee Park, South Korea, a sad last round of even par 72 today, a decent round would have put her at #1 in the World.  Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand, -3 under 69, and still World #1 Shanshan Feng of China, with her final round -1 under 71.

Shanshan played well using her A game, but does not think about the number one ranking;

“Even though I didn’t win, I brought out my A-game and I’m happy with that.”

“I don’t really think about the No. 1 ranking. Even if I lose it, I know I can get it back with good play.”

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