Jutanugarn grabs share of Singapore lead as Wie withdraws

World No 1 Ariya Jutanugarn is among the first-round leaders at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, while Michelle Wie was forced to retire.
Thailand’s Jutanugarn made four birdies in a bogey-free, four-under-par 68 at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore to share the lead with four others: in-form Australian Minjee Lee, France’s Celine Boutier, American Amy Olson and China’s Yu Liu.
.@AmyOlson go off to a great start in the opening round of #HWWCGolf. She fired a 4-under 68 to take a share of the lead.
Interview ==> pic.twitter.com/Xp1VE0Clx4
— LPGA (@LPGA) 28 February 2019
It was not a good day for defending champion Michelle Wie, however. Having just made her return from a wrist injury at last week’s Honda LPGA Thailand, Wie was forced to retire midway through her opening round seemingly suffering with a problem to the same hand.
The American was clearly not at her best as she shot an eight-over 44 on the opening nine which included a double-bogey on the eighth an a triple on the ninth.
Last week’s winner in Thailand, Amy Yang, also withdrew from the tournament on Thursday, with organisers later confirming she was suffering from the flu.
The five leaders are one shot clear of as many as seven others in what is a tightly-packed first-round leaderboard.
Some of the players sharing sixth place include England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff, China’s Shanshan Feng, Ariya’s sister Moriya Jutanugarn and Carlota Ciganda of Spain.
Thursday’s opening round was a tough one for scoring, with gusty winds and fast greens providing the player’s with a stern challenge.
“They have been pretty fast, but it’s really tough because it’s really firm,” Jutanugarn said. “It’s so tough to hit like close to the pin. I missed lots of putts but also made a few putts.”
The HSBC Women’s World Championship brings together the world’s best women golfers and is unofficially known as “Asia’s major” even though it is not recognised as one of the five official major tournaments on the women’s circuit.
Latest
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.