Leona Maguire kicked off her campaign at the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore with a steady performance, carding an even-par 72. While it wasn't the fireworks some might have hoped for, it keeps her in the mix, tied for 28th, six shots behind the leader. The sweltering conditions at Sentosa's Tanjong Course tested the field, with temperatures pushing 30°C.
Maguire's round had its share of ups and downs. Starting on the back nine, she found birdies at the 14th and 15th, offset by bogeys on the 11th and her 12th hole. A bogey on the seventh was quickly followed by a birdie at the par-five eighth, showcasing her resilience.
Leading the pack was American Auston Kim, who fired an impressive six-under 66. Kim's precision off the tee was key, as she navigated the tricky layout with only 21 putts, making seven birdies. Her ability to recover from any missteps was crucial, as she explained, "I hit a lot of good shots today and then every single time I hit a bad one I was able to recover."
Close on her heels, China's Yan Liu finished just one stroke back. The leaderboard also saw a cluster of talent tied for third at three-under 69, including England’s Mimi Rhodes and Sweden’s Linn Grant. World number three Charley Hull, like Maguire, posted a 72, while top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul had a tougher day, finishing with a 73.
Meanwhile, over in Australia, the Ford Women’s NSW Open faced a different challenge with weather wreaking havoc. Play was suspended at Wollongong Golf Club due to flooding, pushing the restart to Friday.
Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen and Germany’s Alexandra Försterling braved the elements to share the clubhouse lead with two-under 69s. Försterling described the conditions as some of the most brutal she’s faced, yet she managed to turn her round around with four birdies on the back nine.
Kibsgaard Nielsen's round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-five 13th. She noted the difficulty, saying, “I think I added 20 percent of the distance going into the wind, which is a lot. And just everything’s so wet.”
As the tournaments continue, both in Singapore and Australia, the players will need to adapt to the challenges posed by weather and course conditions. With strong fields and unpredictable elements, both events promise to deliver exciting golf in the days to come.