Minjee Lee opened with a 7-under par 65 and leads the 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open by a shot after the first day at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The world No. 8 from Australia finished with one bogey against six birdies and an eagle en route to the day’s low-round 65, one clear of Japan’s Mamiko Higa.
“I had a pretty solid day today. I think I turned 3-under,” said Lee.
“So yeah, I made — I holed a lot of putts today and hit some solid shots, so I’m pretty happy with today.”
Lee, who finished runner-up last week in Scotland, said she enjoys playing links golf, but acknowledged it’s a bit trying, mentally.
“If you play it every single week, I think it would be pretty draining,” Lee said. “It’s a treat when we do get to play them.”
A group of five players were one futher back at 5-under par 67, including Korea’s Sung Hyun Park and Mi Hyang Lee, England’s Georgia Hall, Taipei’s Teresa Lu, and Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand.
Defending champion In-Kyung Kim opened with a 2-under 70 and is tied for 20th.
TOP 5 LEADERS
1. Minjee Lee -7
2. Mamiko Higa -6
3. Georgia Hall -5
3. Sung Hyun Park -5
3. Teresa Lu -5
3. Mi Hyang Lee -5
3. Pornanong Phatlum -5
EXIT QUESTION
You’ve had a fantastic season so far, and coming here on the back of a super week last week. How does it alter your mindset, change your mindset coming into a major when you’re having such a successful time?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, coming into this week I was pretty confident after last week. But I mean I just try to take every day as it comes because you never know what the weather is going to be like and what the conditions are going to be like. So yeah, I’m just trying to go out and have fun out there.
