Jeeno Thitikul Opens Women’s British Open with 7-Under 64, Takes Early Lead

In the first round of the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, 23-year-old Jeeno Thitikul posted a 7-under-par 64, establishing a two-stroke lead over South Korea’s Haeran Ryu and Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki. The Thai’s birdie streak early in the round and her avoidance of the course’s numerous pot bunkers gave her a commanding position heading into the weekend.

ESPN

Thitikul is one of only two players to have reached world No. 1 in the women’s rankings without yet capturing a major championship. She previously held the top spot before being overtaken by Nelly Korda in April, who has won two of the season’s four majors. Ryu, the defending champion of the previous two majors, entered the tournament after winning the Women’s PGA at Hazeltine and the Evian Championship with a 60-stroke final round.

ESPN

• Thitikul’s 64 (-7) placed her two strokes ahead of Ryu and Kuwaki.

ESPN

• Charley Hull, playing in her home country, recorded a 69, three strokes behind the leader.

ESPN

• Celine Boutier and Yealimi Noh each posted 67, also three strokes back.

ESPN

• In 2018, Thitikul shot 12-over 300 as an amateur at the same venue, a stark contrast to her current performance.

ESPN

Nelly Korda, who missed the cut at the Evian Championship, has yet to regain her early-season dominance. Charley Hull acknowledged the pressure of competing at home, noting she “missed quite a few putts” but felt she managed her nerves.

ESPN

• “I knew that I haven't won one yet, but I feel like I'm so young and then I still had I don't know how many majors ahead of me,” — Jeeno Thitikul

ESPN

• “I missed quite a few putts today that I felt I should have holed, but I felt like I stayed in there pretty well considering how nervous I was, because I feel there was a lot of pressure on me out there," Hull said.” — Charley Hull

ESPN