Day 1

:00:33. > :00:36.World Cup is almost at an end, the Commonwealth Games are coming back

:00:37. > :00:41.today is the start of two weeks of major golf coverage on the BBC. On

:00:42. > :00:47.Merseyside, next week just south of the city it is the Open Championship

:00:48. > :00:51.but this week it is the tower in sand Junes of Royal Birkdale, the

:00:52. > :00:56.Women's British Open Championship. Some of the greatest names in men

:00:57. > :01:04.and women's golf have all won here in front of the iconic clubhouse.

:01:05. > :01:10.The most accomplished female golfers in the world have congregated here

:01:11. > :01:17.trying to claim what will be the third major title of their golfing

:01:18. > :01:21.year. The world number one is Stacy Lewis, the American took the trophy

:01:22. > :01:28.in memorable style at St Andrews last year and wants to keep it.

:01:29. > :01:35.Lydia Ko is only 17 and is the world number two. A brilliant amateur, she

:01:36. > :01:40.is called a pro now. Inbee Park had a shot at a grand slam last year but

:01:41. > :01:47.is still hunting the British, one of the few trophies she has never held.

:01:48. > :01:50.Suzanne Pedersen burns with intensity, two majors to her name

:01:51. > :01:58.but this is the one she has fed least well in. That Dale welcomes

:01:59. > :02:04.Lexie Thompson, 19 years old, she took the first big title, the craft

:02:05. > :02:09.the and she was fulfilling habits and she along with Michelle we who

:02:10. > :02:17.competed in the US women open and 2041 it. Karrie Webb is a better

:02:18. > :02:23.these days. The most decorated player on the field. The owner of

:02:24. > :02:27.seven major titles. Bringing a splash of colour, usually pink to

:02:28. > :02:33.proceedings is Paula Creamer, the former US Open winner, a strong

:02:34. > :02:36.performer and a popular performer. A big change in the women's world

:02:37. > :02:41.rankings last month, Stacy Lewis going back to the top and ending the

:02:42. > :02:47.Inbee Park domination. She has won three times this season and Lydia Ko

:02:48. > :02:50.only tell professional last November. The major winners of the

:02:51. > :03:08.year so far, Lexie Thompson and Michelle we at five and six. No

:03:09. > :03:11.British golfers in the top ten. Among them day and Laura Davies,

:03:12. > :03:16.recently appointed in the Queen's Speech as lists. Katrina Matthew,

:03:17. > :03:22.the first Scottish woman to win a major. Watch out for Stefanie

:03:23. > :03:42.Meadow, in only her third professional event. Third in the US

:03:43. > :03:48.Open last month. Will home advantage count for Florentyna Parker? Charlie

:03:49. > :03:55.Harle, just 18, leading the European Tour money list, a teenage tigress

:03:56. > :04:03.with a fearsome have a go attitude. In the past two years, just a bit of

:04:04. > :04:08.a brainstorm. It has gone past so fast. Cannot believe how quick it

:04:09. > :04:16.has gone, a bit of a blur. I have achieved a lot, it has been really

:04:17. > :04:21.good. Great for my future, a lot of experience. You are now number one

:04:22. > :04:26.in the European Order of Merit, having a documentary made about

:04:27. > :04:33.you, suddenly really high profile, how UK thing with that? Does it add

:04:34. > :04:36.pressure? There is added pressure, but that is what happens when you

:04:37. > :04:41.are playing good, I have to deal with it. I have had a great season,

:04:42. > :04:49.two top tens, great for my confidence. For sure, you have added

:04:50. > :04:54.pressure, but you just had to deal with it. Good thing when you have

:04:55. > :04:59.that pressure, you know you are getting there every week. You have

:05:00. > :05:05.two block it out. Do you like the added buzz of the Majors? I love the

:05:06. > :05:11.buzz. Great to be in. I love the feel of it, especially on home soil.

:05:12. > :05:20.Charlie Harle, shaking things up a bit in the world of women's goal.

:05:21. > :05:39.This will be eight -- Charlie Humber . . -- Charley hole, shaking things

:05:40. > :05:48.up in the world of women's golf. How easy would it on this course? A bit

:05:49. > :05:58.rough about, you have to be accurate. The ball is sitting down.

:05:59. > :06:05.You won't be able to wedge that into play. You have to avoid the bunkers

:06:06. > :06:09.at all costs, all you can do is not its foreword. The greens are in

:06:10. > :06:17.perfect condition, running at about 11. This course is a delight, it

:06:18. > :06:22.could not be any better, a real challenge if the wind is up. To be

:06:23. > :06:30.the champ here, you have two be driving well, otherwise you will go

:06:31. > :06:42.home. No thoughts of going home when the first group went out. Sunny,

:06:43. > :07:09.with a light breeze. Amongst those following...

:07:10. > :07:18.Good playing conditions, warm, light, a testing breeze. The

:07:19. > :07:23.forecast is to strengthen later. Charley hole begun her round with a

:07:24. > :07:36.double bogey, back on level terms by 14, going level for the round.

:07:37. > :07:40.Making the best progress, this Japanese player. That would put in

:07:41. > :07:56.for a share of the lead. Only four women under par. The

:07:57. > :08:06.gathering pack at level par. Let's head to the commentary box, Peter

:08:07. > :08:12.Alliss. The view never changes, looking

:08:13. > :08:17.absolutely magnificent. The play is pretty good. Virtually no wind a

:08:18. > :08:40.couple of hours ago, the rough is pretty thick. A formidable test.

:08:41. > :08:53.Morgan Pressell. At 13. Oh, maybe in the clumpy stuff. A beautiful view

:08:54. > :09:17.of the 14th. Quite an elevated tee, very inviting shot. That is spot-on

:09:18. > :09:27.for distance. Michelle we came out, played first, straight into the

:09:28. > :09:42.bunker. This one is playing downhill, off the right. Always a

:09:43. > :10:16.dangerous pin to chase going in with a 6-iron plenty of club she has left

:10:17. > :10:25.herself a lot with that one. On the 15th, the Championship leader. He

:10:26. > :10:42.par fives coming up, they are formidable, long ones. -- three par

:10:43. > :10:50.fives. Stacey, giving that a good crack. Dangerous bunkers up the side

:10:51. > :10:56.of this hole. After you stay out of trouble, it is very difficult. You

:10:57. > :11:03.can see the ball pitching there, where her playing partner's

:11:04. > :11:13.finished. Morgan Pressell, third shot. 13th hole. A little stab down.

:11:14. > :11:25.Not too good for direction, but the line was very good. They have a lot

:11:26. > :11:33.of groundcover at Royal Birkdale, quite spiky. Peculiar to this neck

:11:34. > :12:01.of the woods. If the ball settles in the bottom, not easy to play the

:12:02. > :12:08.shot. A good turnout of spectators. Ricoh, the sponsors, laying

:12:09. > :12:18.everything on. A bit of bounce, it has come out. A big crowd out with

:12:19. > :12:36.Michellle Wie, looking very elegant. Seve was always very smart, and she

:12:37. > :12:45.is looking very crisp. Anna Norquist, another tall, elegant

:12:46. > :12:55.player. That looks very good. The Tiffany done. The aprons to the

:12:56. > :13:02.green are absolutely flawless. She came up and over the rise, a good

:13:03. > :13:12.call, opposed to chipping. A strong part of the game, always been a good

:13:13. > :13:21.putter. You can see, two shots dropped on the opening three holes,

:13:22. > :13:28.that'll be a pattern. Perhaps half a club to many, coming in a bit flat

:13:29. > :13:37.with a 6-iron, skidding to the back of the green. They should break a

:13:38. > :13:44.little left to right, not much. The greens are pretty quick. They are.

:13:45. > :13:54.Earlier in the week they were up to 12, with the breeze about, around

:13:55. > :14:04.11, they are swift. You don't want the ball being blown about. Two

:14:05. > :14:13.putts will be OK. Quite subtle, these greens. There is always some

:14:14. > :14:26.movement. What a lovely pace. Excellent putt. They have very

:14:27. > :14:34.similar physiques, these two. Completely different putting styles.

:14:35. > :14:39.A great number of tall women playing the game, not as many in my day.

:14:40. > :14:47.Several who are six feet tall. You were a Lone Ranger? I felt like it.

:14:48. > :15:00.There were very few players over six that when I was around. Bobby Jones,

:15:01. > :15:17.Ben Hogan, Sam Snead. Along came Jordan Archer, now they are all

:15:18. > :15:29.6-foot, six and growing. A chance to get this over the hill.

:15:30. > :15:38.I remember watching her last year, very courageous, coming to St

:15:39. > :15:43.Andrews with no entourage, quite a thing to do, she spoke no English

:15:44. > :15:50.whatsoever. She wanted to experience the culture, not be followed around

:15:51. > :15:59.by a team of huge people like most of the Japanese players are. That is

:16:00. > :16:08.a good set of Spanish, she has in the bag there. Watch this, here we

:16:09. > :16:15.go. A giraffe having a drink. The big, wide stance, very effective.

:16:16. > :16:19.What a story, we remember watching her ten years ago, 14 years of age,

:16:20. > :16:26.you thought, this girl will win everything. She still could. Only 24

:16:27. > :16:32.now. Seems to have been around for ever. Quite slippery. Slide into the

:16:33. > :17:17.right with pace. This is a slippery one for Pressel.

:17:18. > :17:25.Oh, a Jeddah at the stroke, not smoothly through. That was a bit of

:17:26. > :17:49.an anxious prod. Dropping a shot. Back to 2-under.

:17:50. > :18:03.Stephanie Meadow. Out in the second group of the day. An Irish woman

:18:04. > :18:09.from the Portrush area. Now she has burst onto the professional scene

:18:10. > :18:11.with some sparkle. The third in her debut at Pinehurst in the US women's

:18:12. > :18:32.open. Third last week. Well holed. Unfortunately, on seven.

:18:33. > :18:41.14 bunkers. I assume she has tangled with the bunkers or the rough at the

:18:42. > :18:51.15th. After a nice tidy birdie, disappointing. Plus six.

:18:52. > :19:03.Back down the fairway. Stacy Lewis in the company of Mark James. Stacy

:19:04. > :19:13.Lewis, 260 into a 15 mile an hour wind. The ball is bouncing. If she

:19:14. > :19:20.hits something low, it should skip onto the green. She is a mighty

:19:21. > :19:22.hitter. Well, as we look at Stacey, I am delighted to say we are joined

:19:23. > :19:37.by Tom. Thank you, Maureen. Stacy Lewis with a chance to make a

:19:38. > :19:58.birdie. When you get to this T U think we

:19:59. > :19:59.have to get a few birdies in a bank, you have two annex some

:20:00. > :20:19.birdies. Three par fives in the last four

:20:20. > :20:38.holes which makes it very exciting. Level par for the Championship so

:20:39. > :20:46.far. The chance for a birdie. She broke through last year.

:20:47. > :21:01.The first group of the day... Karrie Webb won the Championship three

:21:02. > :21:06.times. Dropped a shot at the last to go to level par. Trying to make up

:21:07. > :21:13.for it here. From the right-hand side. She hit that pretty straight.

:21:14. > :21:31.A fraction too straight. Playing some of the best golf of her

:21:32. > :21:41.career. Two wins so far. The swing stands the test of time. Her nerves

:21:42. > :21:49.have stood the test of time. A look at the leaderboard... UE Hara at the

:21:50. > :21:52.top. Pressel dropped one. Not too many red numbers so far. These

:21:53. > :22:01.players are sitting on level par late into the rounds of 15 can be

:22:02. > :22:11.quite pleased with their days work. A lot of talent up there. Anna

:22:12. > :22:25.Nordqvist from Sweden coming towards the third, last third of her round.

:22:26. > :22:34.Michelle Wie with going -- going with a hybrid.

:22:35. > :22:47.Very defensive. The stinger shot she has been using so well but it didn't

:22:48. > :22:59.work out quite so well there. Stacy Lewis and 15. A birdie at the par-5.

:23:00. > :23:09.A straightforward chip. See. Pitching around the front edge. A

:23:10. > :23:15.lovely strike. Look at this! APPLAUSE

:23:16. > :23:21.How impressed have you been with her play? I have watched her for three

:23:22. > :23:29.or four holes but she buttons it. The middle of the club every time.

:23:30. > :23:34.It is impressive. I can see why she is world number one. Three victories

:23:35. > :23:42.in seven starts on the Tour. She is playing some of the best golf of her

:23:43. > :23:47.life. That was a little bit quick from Karrie Webb. Nothing makes you

:23:48. > :23:55.feel is more than having the chance of a birdie and walking off with

:23:56. > :24:08.bogey. Back-to-back bogeys for the Australian. That will leave a nasty

:24:09. > :24:14.taste in her mouth. Interesting the way Charlie played. Stacy Lewis hit

:24:15. > :24:16.two huge shots ten yards short of the green, Charlie plotted her way

:24:17. > :24:33.down the fairway more. Lucky to miss the left-hand bunker.

:24:34. > :24:58.A good recovery, third shot. She was only seeing the ball going in there.

:24:59. > :25:07.A tough start for the day, Maureen. The players are going to get used to

:25:08. > :25:14.this, they know how tough the opening holes are. 30 players in the

:25:15. > :25:16.first 50 starting with bogey or worse and there wasn't much wind at

:25:17. > :25:31.6:30am this morning. A lovely little pitch from 70 yards

:25:32. > :25:36.out at the left semi. This is a tricky putt. Left to right.

:25:37. > :25:51.Difficult to know if it is up or down.

:25:52. > :26:15.A good rookie season last season finishing 58 on the money list.

:26:16. > :26:24.This has been a busy bunker on 14. Pressel doing her best to escape.

:26:25. > :26:36.That is the best we have seen yet. A beautiful shot.

:26:37. > :26:48.Meadow has found the tough stuff and it is tough out there. It is so

:26:49. > :26:55.difficult to get any measure of control from that kind of stuff.

:26:56. > :27:03.Looking back down the 16th, the tee shot way over there. This is coming

:27:04. > :27:08.up to a skyline green. I think this is going to be a chop out and rely

:27:09. > :27:21.on the short game to try to save par. A clutch of bunkers short. Do

:27:22. > :27:22.not mess with them. And be very careful it does not turn the blade

:27:23. > :27:47.over. Just taking her medicine. A bad half-hour. The Meadow. -- for

:27:48. > :27:52.Stephanie Meadow. She has been playing so well since turning

:27:53. > :28:01.professional. She finished third at the US women?s open.

:28:02. > :28:08.Lexie Thompson, a couple over-par for the Championship. Winner of the

:28:09. > :28:14.crafting of the, the first major of the year for the women. -- Kraft

:28:15. > :28:38.Nabisco Championship. You can see coming out of the

:28:39. > :28:42.semi-rough, very difficult to get any spin or control on the golf

:28:43. > :28:50.ball. With a short flag you are usually going to end up a long way

:28:51. > :28:52.from the flag. Very difficult to get the blade cleanly on to the back of

:28:53. > :29:08.the ball without grass interfering. She should be able to generate some

:29:09. > :29:16.spin. The flag is ten yards on here. Trying to nip it away. That is

:29:17. > :29:19.better. It makes such a difference coming in from the fairway as

:29:20. > :29:24.opposed to the semi-rough. Lots of you at home preferred the

:29:25. > :29:26.semi-rough, a cushy life but it is more difficult to get close to the

:29:27. > :30:13.flag. bogeys on the front nine, one

:30:14. > :30:33.birdie. The chance for a birdie coming up at the 14th. Over to Web.

:30:34. > :30:42.She has leaked it. She will be kicking herself. Such an

:30:43. > :30:52.exhilarating tee shot off 13. Just glorious. Absolutely beautiful. A

:30:53. > :31:00.fairly tough tee shot facing these players. Trouble up the right, the

:31:01. > :31:11.rough is very thick. The left is better.

:31:12. > :31:34.I think the marshals are allowing the galleries across.

:31:35. > :31:47.The players waiting for people to go across the crossing point.

:31:48. > :31:57.Stacy Lewis, after that beautiful birdie. The marshals are signalling

:31:58. > :32:09.straight. Certainly years. -- certainly is. That is perfect. She

:32:10. > :32:16.plays a fearless golf game. This is Michellle Wie at the 15th. Problems

:32:17. > :32:45.off the tee Charley Hull should be perfect

:32:46. > :33:06.there. They have to go right, define the pin from there. I think Hara

:33:07. > :33:11.will be going left. She has to go a little left of the other two. She

:33:12. > :33:34.looks happy as well. Bubbling up in great shape.

:33:35. > :33:56.Kari Webb, with her third. 41 times a winner on the Tour. A legend. Down

:33:57. > :34:10.the hill, left to right. Hold your line. Just sliding away. Gladys

:34:11. > :34:16.played both Tours, European and American, now playing in Europe,

:34:17. > :34:39.does not have any status in America any longer. On the 15th, in the

:34:40. > :34:44.bunker. Having to face that steep... The sand blowing in her face. The

:34:45. > :34:51.breeze has not been as big a factor as it was in practice. Quite stiff

:34:52. > :34:58.yesterday morning. I watched Michelle practising a lot of her

:34:59. > :35:09.stingers shots. I don't think she requires them with this weather.

:35:10. > :35:21.Stefanie Meadow, back against the wall. Good stroke. Beautiful putt.

:35:22. > :35:32.That showed some nerve and guts. A fighting four that 16. -- at

:35:33. > :35:36.extreme. This round can be rescued, you can finish with a birdie,

:35:37. > :35:49.birdie. That is exactly what she will be thinking. Lexi Thompson,

:35:50. > :35:55.par. She has done a lot of work with Dave Stockton on her putting. Both

:35:56. > :36:03.of her brothers are very good golfers, one plays on the PGA Tour.

:36:04. > :36:06.They say when she was back home playing in Florida, the putting was

:36:07. > :36:13.fine, under pressure it was failing her. She did some work last autumn,

:36:14. > :36:17.making a huge difference. Now, almost a different player. That was

:36:18. > :36:31.a beautiful putt. A player of her power will be

:36:32. > :36:41.looking to eat up those final two holes.

:36:42. > :36:53.112 yards to the front. 22 to the pin. Tucked away, right to left. Not

:36:54. > :37:24.easy even with a fairly lofted iron. There is an interesting little half

:37:25. > :37:30.glove. Attached to her sleeve. All the European players are out in

:37:31. > :37:31.short sleeves, the Americans and Asian players have their underarm

:37:32. > :37:41.on. -- under armour on. Cracking third shot, leaving a 20

:37:42. > :38:11.footer, from the right. She has left herself a little bit of

:38:12. > :38:25.work, Ken. Michelle not off to a great start in the Championship.

:38:26. > :38:31.Stacy Lewis. Just 100 yards. The wind just dropping for a moment.

:38:32. > :38:43.She's putting on a bit of a display. Covered in divot, Stacy

:38:44. > :38:54.finding the funny side of it. Charley Hull. Just 89 for Charley

:38:55. > :38:59.Hull. Better angle to come at the pin, so the textbook says.

:39:00. > :39:39.Absolutely glorious shot. Kari Webb, at 17. Came out of the

:39:40. > :39:49.bunker in three. Being not a bad run for the last 40 minutes or so. This

:39:50. > :40:21.is Tiger Woods' needs. For a birdie at 14. -- Nice to delete niece.

:40:22. > :40:29.Holly Clyburn, for a birdie. -- niece.

:40:30. > :40:57.Back at the 16th. With the leader. Birdie the opening hole -- bogeyed

:40:58. > :41:06.the opening hole. Birdie since then. Has had three victories in Japan,

:41:07. > :41:21.starting to build her career on the LPGA. Third major of the year, a

:41:22. > :41:36.couple more coming up. One coming up in Rochester. Then Evian

:41:37. > :41:47.Championship France. A tricky one to read. Not for Michelle. One lone

:41:48. > :41:57.birdie. He long birdie attempt. Across the green. -- a long. Just a

:41:58. > :42:16.little quicker than she thought. Quite an elevated green this one.

:42:17. > :42:33.The little bit of work left for her par. Kari Webb trying to remain at

:42:34. > :42:40.1-over. My word, Peter. She must wonder what is going on. Was going

:42:41. > :43:00.so nicely until the last couple of holes. Stacy Lewis. A very intense

:43:01. > :43:19.competitor, Peter. She is, gives it her all.

:43:20. > :43:27.The second group, in trouble. This part of the rough looks a bit wispy.

:43:28. > :43:49.You need a little bit of good fortune. Consultations with her

:43:50. > :44:08.cabbie, -- caddy, endlessly. Going on, and on, and on. Charley Hull, on

:44:09. > :44:16.16, for a birdie. Representing the Woburn golf club. The open will be

:44:17. > :44:29.going there in a few years, she is very excited about that. Always a

:44:30. > :44:55.good venue, going back to Alex Hayes' days, our dearly missed

:44:56. > :45:06.friend. And 16. Putt for a par. She is in again. Going along very neatly

:45:07. > :45:12.and tidily. A very nice looking scorecard. Stacy Lewis tidying up

:45:13. > :45:28.this par putt at 16. A winner in Arkansas a few weeks

:45:29. > :45:32.ago. She went to university in Arkansas which was 20 miles away

:45:33. > :45:43.from where they played the warm up Championship. A bustling part of the

:45:44. > :45:50.world, the HQ of Walmart. Thompson, they've decided to do something.

:45:51. > :45:59.Boy, that was thick. It has gone left into the junk.

:46:00. > :46:11.That was tough. What do you think about the rough being longer this

:46:12. > :46:15.year, do you like it? It is a Championship and I once discussed it

:46:16. > :46:19.with a lady in high places suggesting when the wind was blowing

:46:20. > :46:23.at Lytham Saint Anne is it might be more comfortable for the women to

:46:24. > :46:28.play something like Sunningdale or Woburn. She said, we like

:46:29. > :46:36.Championship courses. You have to put up with what is there. They are

:46:37. > :46:43.playing it 1000 yards shorter. It is a tough test. The wind is

:46:44. > :47:01.freshening. It could be quite gusty this afternoon.

:47:02. > :47:15.Stacy Lewis... If you wonder why it takes so long to play, this is an

:47:16. > :47:21.example, you will see it this week, decisions, decisions. I

:47:22. > :47:27.straightforward driving hole, but they fact about. They look and

:47:28. > :47:31.ponder and get books out of their pockets as checked the wind

:47:32. > :47:38.direction and what we had for supper last night! What will uncle Charlie

:47:39. > :47:45.do? They are waiting, we will forgive them on this occasion.

:47:46. > :47:58.The approach to the 17th. Trying to get home into. -- in two.

:47:59. > :48:52.This tee shot is all about the two bunkers on the right. 260 yards.

:48:53. > :48:59.Quite a long way to get past. There are huge humps standing left of the

:49:00. > :49:10.fairway. If you get it in there, it is not great at all. It sounded

:49:11. > :49:17.nice. Ride through the middle. Lovely shot.

:49:18. > :49:37.She will be taking a similar line stop in narrow fairway but the line

:49:38. > :49:47.is pretty much exactly where Stacy Lewis?s ball finished.

:49:48. > :50:04.She will be delighted at that. A bit of a run through the light rough. I

:50:05. > :50:09.don't know how she did that. You would think it was an October date

:50:10. > :50:16.with all of the kit she has got on. She is playing nicely.

:50:17. > :50:25.Uehara... A totally different game she plays. A real contrast in style

:50:26. > :50:34.and swing. Problems at the 16th for Michelle

:50:35. > :51:02.Wii. That looked a tough lie. She had to

:51:03. > :51:07.hack it out across the fairway. I walked if you holes in practice with

:51:08. > :51:12.Michelle and she was hitting it so well. I'm surprised she struggled

:51:13. > :51:15.today. She looked on top form with her coach. The birdie putt for

:51:16. > :51:58.Morgan Pressel. For 3-under par. Second shot at the 18th for Holly

:51:59. > :52:08.Clyburn. She started with two bogeys but eagled the 6th hole. Dropped a

:52:09. > :52:11.shot on 11. A good chance to finish with a birdie or an eagle. It makes

:52:12. > :52:27.it exciting. A slightly elevated green. Usually

:52:28. > :52:39.played into the prevailing wind but not today. More crosswind. Steady.

:52:40. > :53:13.The wind is trying the Greens out a little bit. Quite speedy.

:53:14. > :53:34.Big enough for the harvest festival, that one.

:53:35. > :54:03.You can get your own petrol bear! Pretty things, aren't they? Do you

:54:04. > :54:21.like them or the wind farms? Real golfing country.

:54:22. > :54:36.Holly Clyburn playing alongside Karrie Webb in the first group out

:54:37. > :54:37.today. This for an eagle... This would be her second eagle of the

:54:38. > :55:06.day. She finished second on the Italian

:55:07. > :55:11.open. She is sixth on the European Tour Order of Merit. A good season

:55:12. > :55:20.after a steady start here at Royal Birkdale.

:55:21. > :56:12.The first player to post a score today.

:56:13. > :56:24.A short one for Karrie Webb to finish for birdie.

:56:25. > :56:34.A birdie to finish for the Australian. A bit disappointed.

:56:35. > :57:02.The third birdie of the day for Lexie.

:57:03. > :57:15.It is early days in the first round of the Open Championship. This is

:57:16. > :57:21.how they stand. The first players are completing their round. It began

:57:22. > :57:26.at 6:30am. The last players go off at 3:30pm. A long day for the

:57:27. > :57:28.adjudicators and the people who run the event. And the wind is

:57:29. > :57:56.freshening. Her caddy is her only professional

:57:57. > :57:59.caddy. She worked with her father for a while. She hasn't worked with

:58:00. > :58:11.any other professional caddy. That is just where you don't want

:58:12. > :58:40.it. A nasty chip. That is horrid. Good crowds on the opening day. Just

:58:41. > :58:46.perfect watching conditions. A slight chill in the air, a nice

:58:47. > :58:48.breeze and lovely sunshine. It is a delight. You can almost see the

:58:49. > :59:52.course drying out. Not the opening day she was hoping

:59:53. > :59:57.for. At Pinehurst she played well also in Arkansas. She was in

:59:58. > :00:43.contention heading into the final round. 60 yards for Uehara. She nips

:00:44. > :00:59.that one beautifully, and very tidy golfer, not crash, bang wallop.

:01:00. > :01:15.This should be fun to watch, one of the biggest hitters on the Tour, and

:01:16. > :01:20.Lexi Thompson on 18. Such an advantage if you can get the driver

:01:21. > :01:36.working. Not much run on that one. She has hit it hard. Playing with

:01:37. > :01:45.Gladys. You don't see this tee used very often, making it into a slight

:01:46. > :02:15.dogleg, left to right. Not good, here. It is a bit of tortoise and

:02:16. > :02:46.hare. This is a bit of a hit and hope job. Do your best. Say a little

:02:47. > :03:14.prayer. It came out quite easily. Still got a birdie putt. Press -- 's

:03:15. > :03:33.more travel, up over the bunker. Nasty. What about this one, young

:03:34. > :03:48.Tom, down, up, up. Nearly. Very well done. I have been watching Charley

:03:49. > :04:03.she's quite fearless. She flew that one up very nicely, chance of a

:04:04. > :04:12.four. I remember at the Solheim cup, when she beat Paula Creamer, she

:04:13. > :04:17.says she hates it, finds it, it hit, just gets on with it, doesn't think

:04:18. > :04:28.about it too much. She's not 19 yet, is she? Still a teenager. Here is

:04:29. > :04:34.another very talented young player from Northern Ireland, Stefanie

:04:35. > :04:54.Meadow. Not the day she was looking for, at 6-over. It got through OK.

:04:55. > :05:06.There is the clubhouse. Built very controversially. Very modern. I've

:05:07. > :05:12.played in my third or fourth Open Championship here in 1954. It had

:05:13. > :05:21.housed a few amateur links before that. Stacy Lewis, birdie putt, that

:05:22. > :05:23.could be all right. No. You could see it starts to go, little more

:05:24. > :05:39.pace would have done it. I don't know why they took so long

:05:40. > :05:46.to come here to play the Open. I heard one of the members, a former

:05:47. > :05:52.captain in -- and chairman, he said he thought the club were asked years

:05:53. > :06:03.ago, and they thought they weren't ready for it. That it was on the

:06:04. > :06:22.agenda. That one sounded a bit heavy. Actually, straight enough.

:06:23. > :06:29.Pretty much pin high for the Lexi Thompson -- pin high for. It is

:06:30. > :06:43.pretty much a case of hitting the fairway, missing those bunkers.

:06:44. > :06:47.Charley Hull, for a birdie at 17. I don't think I have seen the rough

:06:48. > :06:51.much tougher than this week, and I have been coming here for many

:06:52. > :07:04.years. Plenty of wickedness in the bottom. This is a hurried shot. --

:07:05. > :07:10.horrid. You can see how it gets turned, and twisted over by the

:07:11. > :07:20.rough. You can find yourself in this nightmare of marching back in a

:07:21. > :07:21.cross from one patch to another. The person leading the Championship at

:07:22. > :07:42.the moment. Birdie putt to go four under. Just a

:07:43. > :07:58.little too high. You have to say, a chance missed.

:07:59. > :08:09.Woods on 15. Just too high, hitting through the break.

:08:10. > :08:20.A couple of birdies there. Really enjoying life on the professional

:08:21. > :08:32.Tour, managing very well what some would see as the burden of her

:08:33. > :08:36.surname. A famous uncle. She sees it as having many more advantages than

:08:37. > :08:56.disadvantages will -- disadvantages. Just inside the right. Pushing it

:08:57. > :09:04.off the blade. A very careless three putt by Woods.

:09:05. > :09:28.Pressel, for shot at 16. She may get away with just the one dropped shot.

:09:29. > :09:51.Back on 18. One of the most exciting young players in golf today. This

:09:52. > :10:01.she turned professional when she was 15. -- she turned professional. This

:10:02. > :10:10.is a similar position to where we saw Holly Clyburn, not that long

:10:11. > :10:19.ago. Stacy Lewis been in one way off -- booming one away. You have to be

:10:20. > :10:28.careful, we saw the bump and trundle, not too appetising in

:10:29. > :10:43.there. Thompson, with a chance of a three. Good effort. Back on the tee,

:10:44. > :10:54.Charley Hull. All about this bunker in the middle, left to right. Hull

:10:55. > :11:03.definitely has the firepower, but she has hit that one right as well.

:11:04. > :11:22.Out of bounds. Unlawful tee shot. -- that is unlawful tee shot. If a --

:11:23. > :11:31.that is an awful tee shot. Another eagle putt. Only one eagle so far,

:11:32. > :11:36.by Holly Clyburn at the 6th will stop you will see opportunities for

:11:37. > :11:43.eagle at 18, nobody managing to bury one yet.

:11:44. > :12:17.Activity. Uehara. -- back to the tee. Charley Hull having another go.

:12:18. > :12:20.That was a pretty shocking first one from Charley Hull, 50 odd yards

:12:21. > :12:49.right of way she should have been aiming. I think this is a better

:12:50. > :13:00.attempt. Nocero leaving herself a difficult one, that is not what she

:13:01. > :13:25.wanted. Could have been so much better. Michellle Wie. Second shot

:13:26. > :13:42.at 17, a big drive. Well... I'm not sure why she did that. Lexi, closing

:13:43. > :13:54.birdie, in she goes. Nice opening round of 72. Four, four finish,

:13:55. > :13:59.always helps. Yes, the capacity for big changes in the final holes, that

:14:00. > :14:05.is what is so exciting about this golf course. Stefanie Meadow in for

:14:06. > :14:15.a closing birdie, that is a 77 for the Irishwoman. A tough day. Double

:14:16. > :14:23.bogeys. That has hurt her very badly. Pressel. For a five at the

:14:24. > :14:48.16th. Yes. A shot dropped. Awkward little shot. You almost had

:14:49. > :14:57.to play a little left of the flag. 53 yards, very tricky. Why did she

:14:58. > :15:06.lay up? She is playing a very defensive strategy. Extraordinary.

:15:07. > :15:24.80 yards short of the green. She is getting closer, that is the good

:15:25. > :15:32.news. You can see the leaderboard change a bit during the day. At the

:15:33. > :15:35.moment, Uehara is on the top. She is on the 18th. Five players under-par.

:15:36. > :16:20.A string of players on par. Perfect drive down the narrow part

:16:21. > :16:31.of the fairway and she has been rewarded. A fine shot. So

:16:32. > :16:36.interestingly different ways the players can plot their way around

:16:37. > :16:43.here. Being a long hitter isn't such an advantage. The men who are

:16:44. > :16:49.watching, you will learn more watching the women play golf. She

:16:50. > :16:54.doesn't weigh more than eight stone and she times everything, keeping up

:16:55. > :17:01.with the big guns. A clean pair of heels at the moment. This does not

:17:02. > :17:15.look happy, knee deep stuff. It is not the place to be. You feel

:17:16. > :17:21.an idiot because three quarters of England on the left-hand side and

:17:22. > :17:23.the out of bounds fence and heavy rough down the right, so much room

:17:24. > :17:49.on the left. I think you are right, it is a get

:17:50. > :17:55.back into position, reasonable position, if you can on the fairway

:17:56. > :17:59.to attack the flag with a third. This might not come out. She is

:18:00. > :18:14.concerned. It looks daunting but behind the

:18:15. > :18:25.ball it isn't too bad. She is wedging it out. That is all right.

:18:26. > :19:00.An awkward flag position. She did not leave herself an easy shot at

:19:01. > :19:03.all. It is turning into hard work for Michelle.

:19:04. > :19:18.She is making it hard work. The wind is getting up a bit. The

:19:19. > :19:21.wind is coming from not the usual direction. It usually comes from the

:19:22. > :20:00.West, downwind at the 17th and 18th. There are far more undulation is on

:20:01. > :20:05.the green that you can see on your screen. That is excellent. What a

:20:06. > :20:39.super putt that is. Look at the beach, they do not come

:20:40. > :20:59.much bigger than that. The tide goes out for miles. It is dangerous sand.

:21:00. > :21:24.The breeze won't help her get into the flag.

:21:25. > :21:35.And the wind is definitely rising. If it continues, it will be a

:21:36. > :21:39.monster this afternoon. The big big names go out in the next 20 minutes

:21:40. > :22:00.or so. It will be a different course.

:22:01. > :22:12.Four shots played and hasn't reached the whole yet. Come on, Michelle.

:22:13. > :22:17.Woods has lost her golf ball of the 16th tee.

:22:18. > :22:51.Well done. That goes down as a par but she works hard for it.

:22:52. > :23:04.She has done lately. That was the purpose. How do they do that? Some

:23:05. > :23:04.of her best and worst shots on the same hole.

:23:05. > :23:27.Amazing. Woods?s second attempt. You don't lose many balls these

:23:28. > :23:58.days, water hazards of course. From a distance, she looks statuesque.

:23:59. > :24:06.She has struggled so far this year, amazingly. She missed the cut in the

:24:07. > :24:10.first two Majors and has missed three out of her last four cuts. She

:24:11. > :24:19.did well last year. She is a player of note. And beginning to build a

:24:20. > :24:24.very solid career. This Southport El will do her good, Maureen. Bracing.

:24:25. > :24:40.-- air. It looks relatively straight. Quite

:24:41. > :24:50.often putts move towards the back of the green. She has played some

:24:51. > :24:53.lovely golf. Not put a foot wrong. We have seen from Pat -- some putts.

:24:54. > :25:07.The ball runs dead straight. Well played. Not many ahead of you

:25:08. > :25:23.come close of play tonight, my dear. She drove into the thick rough down

:25:24. > :26:13.the right-hand side. Not to be. But after the tee shot

:26:14. > :26:21.she is quite satisfied to record a par.

:26:22. > :26:31.She will tap this one away for a 71. A tidy opening round by the

:26:32. > :26:58.defending champion. Another three of those won't be too bad.

:26:59. > :27:07.A bit of a roller-coaster round for Charley Hull. Double bogey, bogey

:27:08. > :27:12.start. She managed to get it all back. But she has this for a closing

:27:13. > :27:22.bogey which will give her a 73. Well done! What a gutsy finish. She

:27:23. > :27:28.knocks it out of bounds and makes a birdie. The round book ended by D2

:27:29. > :27:40.sixes. 73 is a fine result. That is how they stand at the

:27:41. > :28:17.moment. Pressel with one of her numerous

:28:18. > :28:23.rescue clubs. Urging it on. Behave! Oh, these bunkers are still

:28:24. > :28:33.gathering. That is worse than if it had gone into the sand. That was

:28:34. > :28:42.nearly a super shot. Woods, fifth shot.

:28:43. > :29:18.She has found the heart of the 18th fairway. Quite a fearsome sight

:29:19. > :29:22.because you see lots of bunkers everywhere and ups and hollows.

:29:23. > :29:27.Sometimes you pick a window in the clubhouse and hit and hope. I am

:29:28. > :29:34.sure they did do that but that is what I used to do!

:29:35. > :29:44.A great strike of the ball. Likes to play with a draw. It will suit this

:29:45. > :30:02.flag location, tucked in on the left by the bunker.

:30:03. > :30:42.you get a decent live. Plenty of green to work with. 7-over par. Not

:30:43. > :31:11.easy with this cross. Not more than a little push forward. Coming up,

:31:12. > :31:26.yes. Come on, Morgan. She made a good contact, you run the risk of

:31:27. > :31:36.having a poor life. -- lie. Michellle Wie. That was a fine

:31:37. > :31:45.shot. Looks like the course is beginning to dry out a little bit.

:31:46. > :31:58.Two putt from there, around in 73. A little bit untidy in places. This

:31:59. > :32:12.has been a horrible run for Woods. Bogeyed 13. Bogeyed 14, bogeyed 15.

:32:13. > :32:22.A triple on 16. Quite difficult to smile after that run. How do you

:32:23. > :32:31.fancy a trip on one of those, Maureen? They were meant to operate

:32:32. > :32:40.today. With it being so windy. Getting windier. Some famous people

:32:41. > :32:53.live in that little block of land. One of those footballing chappies.

:32:54. > :33:14.Looks like Wimbledon, all over again.

:33:15. > :33:27.Anna Nordqvist has been moving along quite nicely. Level par. A couple

:33:28. > :33:40.over going out, birdie in 11 and ten. A string of pars ever since. --

:33:41. > :33:50.birdieing. She has had a good year, winning twice already. This will

:33:51. > :33:59.need a little bit of pace and line. Diving from the left-hand side. Not

:34:00. > :34:29.high enough. So hard to make yourself hit that putt high enough.

:34:30. > :34:41.That is a dropped shot. A little unlucky to trickle through. Not a

:34:42. > :35:01.badness. -- bad miss. This would change her day, a little chip. That

:35:02. > :35:13.was very sweet, indeed. Getting a look at how the green shimmies from

:35:14. > :35:21.left to right. Lots of subtle furrows. Absolutely beautiful.

:35:22. > :35:28.Pressel's putt sliding past, not even sliding up to it. Only a par.

:35:29. > :35:41.After that gorgeous shot over the bunker. She is such a feisty

:35:42. > :35:51.competitor. Aggressive and outgoing. Do you remember when she first burst

:35:52. > :35:56.on the scene? At the US Open. I think she played when she was 12.

:35:57. > :36:06.Did you see the 11-year-old, Lucy Lee? We get older, they get younger.

:36:07. > :36:10.I don't know how you can play at 11 in the Championship. She stopped two

:36:11. > :37:02.78s. -- shot. Amazing. Now, this needs to be absolutely

:37:03. > :37:09.dead straight. She put it out wide, a big swing. We have seen some

:37:10. > :37:13.pretty well running straight. A lot of subtle little burrows. A bit of

:37:14. > :38:05.subsidence. This one has a fair bit of slope,

:38:06. > :38:18.impacting from the right-hand side. Fairly speedy. A good effort. We

:38:19. > :38:33.have seen a lot of putts that had been struck well, just shading the

:38:34. > :38:57.edge of the hole. Blue in Green will may be seen -- blue and green will

:38:58. > :39:30.nair be seen. She needs this one to brighten her day. 78 it is.

:39:31. > :39:38.I think probably if you get 74 or better, at the end of the day you

:39:39. > :39:46.will not be too dissatisfied with things. This is a tough examination

:39:47. > :40:04.that the women are facing this week at Royal Birkdale. A little tiddler

:40:05. > :40:10.for Michellle Wie, for a birdie. 75. Well, that is over. Five bogeys. Two

:40:11. > :40:48.birdies. 37, 38. That is how it is looking so far, UE

:40:49. > :41:01.-- Uehara with a fine 68. A long way to go though. Congratulations, a

:41:02. > :41:10.great start to the Championship, how comfortable did you feel on the golf

:41:11. > :41:15.course? I had a good feeling with my putting, that is why I shot so low.

:41:16. > :41:28.How difficult is it in these conditions? It was windy, but a lot

:41:29. > :41:40.of weather is coming. I have two prepare -- I have to prepare. What

:41:41. > :41:44.do you like about this Championship, this being a second

:41:45. > :41:51.time? I am so happy to play this week. Right now, four under, three

:41:52. > :42:04.more days, I am so excited right now. Keep going. Thank you.

:42:05. > :42:11.Anna Nordqvist, a fine tee shot. You can see those flags at her back, the

:42:12. > :42:18.wind is left to right. With this left-hand pin position, ideally you

:42:19. > :42:19.want a little draw, landing 20 yards short, working its way onto the

:42:20. > :42:44.green. That is a severe cut away. She may

:42:45. > :43:02.be lucky enough to squeeze it past the bunker. Pressel pulling the

:43:03. > :43:09.trigger on her second shot into 18. Never comfortable, backing off that

:43:10. > :43:22.shot a couple of times. That is what you call short siding yourself.

:43:23. > :43:28.Stacey, our defending champion, world number one, 1-under, how do

:43:29. > :43:35.you rate that? It was a very good start, I would have taken it to

:43:36. > :43:42.start the day. Under par at a major, on this course, a great score. How

:43:43. > :43:45.different is this challenge of Royal Birkdale, compared to St Andrews

:43:46. > :43:50.last year? This is the complete opposite. Hitting the fairways, the

:43:51. > :43:56.centre of the greens, you have two think your way round. Not many

:43:57. > :44:04.drivers. I only hit a handful. Long irons. A lot of windy conditions

:44:05. > :44:10.last year, 12 months on, if the wind gets up, how testing will discourse

:44:11. > :44:17.be? It will be very hard. Nobody is going super crazy, because of how

:44:18. > :44:22.hard the courses. When it gets windy, like yesterday in practice,

:44:23. > :44:27.it was pretty brutal. It will be hard, a good test, and I like

:44:28. > :44:32.courses like that. Three wins already this season, the LPGA Tour

:44:33. > :44:37.in America has gone from strength to strength, like American golfers are

:44:38. > :44:46.retraining your Tour. Nine victories to date. We got beaten pretty badly

:44:47. > :44:51.at the Solheim cup, it gave everybody motivation to play better.

:44:52. > :44:57.A lot of camaraderie. We enjoy seeing the other girls play well. It

:44:58. > :45:02.has been a great thing for winning's golf, all of the stars are

:45:03. > :45:23.winning. Exciting times for you, and everybody else, thank you.

:45:24. > :45:33.China in woods -- Cheyenne Woods, Tiger's niece. On a dreadful run.

:45:34. > :46:42.7-over par. These players know they have been on

:46:43. > :46:48.the right side of the draw today as the wind freshens. When you are

:46:49. > :46:52.playing you feel you should be making hay while the sun shines.

:46:53. > :46:57.Take advantage because tomorrow they will be out at a later time. They

:46:58. > :47:12.were content with the wind when the tides change.

:47:13. > :47:21.Too much sand. An awkward shot. Nasty shot. So much good work being

:47:22. > :47:29.evaporated. A birdie putt for woods. Quite a

:47:30. > :48:40.severe slope in front of her. A birdie chance on 17... A fast

:48:41. > :48:55.putt, this. Watch how small her backswing is for this putt.

:48:56. > :49:11.Lovely! How would you assess your first round? Apart from double bogey

:49:12. > :49:17.on the first I played pretty well. I hit a terrible tee shot on the last.

:49:18. > :49:28.I hit a great second shot and I had a good up-and-down, in the middle I

:49:29. > :49:33.am happy. I was pretty solid. Book ended by not such great stuff but

:49:34. > :49:37.this is a third appearance in the Championship, yet to make the cut.

:49:38. > :49:43.How difficult is getting to grips with it? Definitely because we play

:49:44. > :49:49.in amateur stuff but I didn't play much. It is getting used to it

:49:50. > :49:53.visually because I like looking down and seeing the tight fairways but

:49:54. > :50:00.here it is, you are not guessing, you are guessing where it is. I know

:50:01. > :50:05.where the fairways are. It is visually different. You are coming

:50:06. > :50:12.here as a big name in women's golf. How comfortable are you wearing that

:50:13. > :50:20.hat? It is good. I have had a good season so far this year. It gave me

:50:21. > :50:22.an insight as to what it is like to compete in a major. We are looking

:50:23. > :50:53.forward to seeing you. Well done. Excellent stuff. We have seen her do

:50:54. > :51:14.that so often. Great clutch putt. Level par 72.

:51:15. > :51:32.There isn't much in this putt of Pressel. Might try to leak to her

:51:33. > :51:45.right hand side. Well done. She escapes with a five.

:51:46. > :51:59.Chances missed but damage limitation as well.

:52:00. > :52:10.And the Japanese flag is still flying high at the top of the

:52:11. > :52:18.leaderboard. Uehara hotly pursued by Pressel. You can see it as a tough

:52:19. > :52:30.test. Only four players finished under-par so far. A long way to go.

:52:31. > :52:36.Happy so far is Morgan Pressel. How did you do just the score? It was

:52:37. > :52:40.OK. I had a good day. The conditions were the easiest we will have all

:52:41. > :52:46.week, I assume. Especially starting this morning, hardly any wind. I got

:52:47. > :52:49.off to a good start on the opening holes which were challenging. I was

:52:50. > :52:55.a little disappointed in my last couple of holes. I will take to

:52:56. > :53:01.underpar and it puts me in a good position. Three more days left. You

:53:02. > :53:06.have a good memory from Royal Birkdale. You are getting closer and

:53:07. > :53:12.closer because it was fourth at St Andrews, in the thick of the action.

:53:13. > :53:16.Are you getting the hang of it? Definitely. It is interesting being

:53:17. > :53:23.back at Royal Birkdale because last time I really did not enjoy playing

:53:24. > :53:31.links golf. I shot an opening 77 and was ready to book my flight home. My

:53:32. > :53:37.friend who I was staying with said get your head back on straight and

:53:38. > :53:44.you can play tomorrow and I shot 65. OK, maybe I can play links golf!

:53:45. > :53:48.That got me a new approach to playing St Andrews and the other

:53:49. > :53:54.links courses. It is nice to be back. This is a story we hear so

:53:55. > :54:00.often, Phil Mickelson won the open after years of trying. What is the

:54:01. > :54:05.secret of links golf? I don't know if there is a secret. I try to adapt

:54:06. > :54:10.my game plan, stay out of the bunkers, especially the fairway

:54:11. > :54:19.bunkers. Not just the bunkers but the deep rough. I do not know if

:54:20. > :54:23.there is a secret but you have to putt well and on greens that are

:54:24. > :54:29.typically slower than those we play week in, week out and you have to

:54:30. > :54:34.have creativity. I think I got frustrated when the golf course

:54:35. > :54:43.would throw me bad bounces or weird lies. Now I embrace it more. It is

:54:44. > :54:46.the fun of the game. You are now one of the more experienced players at

:54:47. > :54:51.26 because there are so many young women coming on the Tour and you are

:54:52. > :54:57.the living embodiment of a teenage phenomenon. The youngest woman to

:54:58. > :55:05.win at 18. We are now seeing Lucy Lee and others, Lexi Thompson,

:55:06. > :55:10.Michelle Wii, younger and younger. What is it about the game that

:55:11. > :55:16.attracts more talent younger? It is the same in women's ten. It is

:55:17. > :55:23.getting younger and younger. That is the way people are starting to get

:55:24. > :55:26.better coaching. It is becoming more popular amongst kids. Lydia Ko is

:55:27. > :55:34.the most impressive youngster out there. It has been fun to watch her.

:55:35. > :55:40.I turned pro at 17 and played my rookie year on Tour as one of the

:55:41. > :55:47.youngest out there and now I feel so old! I am only 26. Charley Hull,

:55:48. > :55:53.Lexi and it is fun to watch them grow and go through all of the ups

:55:54. > :56:00.and downs that we went through. You were a run up when you were a

:56:01. > :56:06.teenager. You were an amateur at the time and suddenly what about your

:56:07. > :56:11.nerves, at that age, fearless and on top of the world and nothing seems

:56:12. > :56:15.to matter, how does your nerves now compare with then? I went through a

:56:16. > :56:22.big learning process. I think that there were times, I was fearless at

:56:23. > :56:27.17 with nothing to lose and suddenly I play for money and sponsorship and

:56:28. > :56:34.other obligations and other things get in the way. And then it became

:56:35. > :56:39.putting too much pressure on myself and the golf course so I have found

:56:40. > :56:47.a happy balance. Not putting too much pressure on myself and going

:56:48. > :56:55.out there and working hard. Will you still play at 50? I don't know!

:56:56. > :57:00.Laura, Julie, I do not know if I have that in me but you never know.

:57:01. > :57:06.That was the coolest thing about the US Open, we had Lucy Lee and others

:57:07. > :57:11.playing in the same tournament. Golf is the any sport where that is

:57:12. > :57:17.possible. That is what is special. Great start. Thank you so much for

:57:18. > :57:22.joining us in the studio. You can go home and have a rest. A very long

:57:23. > :57:31.day! We will concentrate on the women who teed off later in the day

:57:32. > :57:41.and we start with Inbee Park and Angela Stanford. You might remember

:57:42. > :57:49.a tennis champion, Jessica Korda is the daughter. 13 time winner in

:57:50. > :58:10.Japan, accompanies Katrina Mathie. Paula Creamer making her 10th

:58:11. > :58:15.appearance and Lydia Ko from New Zealand. Leading amateur twice

:58:16. > :58:20.before. We have had some movement out there over the last little

:58:21. > :58:26.while. Some of it has been from a former Curtis cup player for

:58:27. > :58:30.America, a 24-year-old. This is a putt at the 18th. She joined Morgan

:58:31. > :58:54.Pressel. She has had a great time. A good stab at things. And this got

:58:55. > :59:04.us close indeed. She tapped it in. Her third shot. A round of 70.

:59:05. > :59:11.The short 13th. Laura playing her 30th Rico British women's

:59:12. > :59:20.Championship in a row. She has still got it. She had trouble making the

:59:21. > :59:30.cut but a chance of being with us. Mo Martin, 30 yards out to putt.

:59:31. > :59:39.That is her third shot. That really is stone dead, in for a birdie. Mo

:59:40. > :59:48.Martin 3-under. A round of 69. Mo Martin one of the most accurate

:59:49. > :00:14.drivers on the Tour. This is how it stands.

:00:15. > :00:30.PETER ALISS: Hello, Hazel, what a lovely day it is. Everybody is

:00:31. > :00:35.looking very bonny. The sun is shining. It was much easier this

:00:36. > :00:40.morning for those who had to be here at 6:30 a.m., it was quite calm.

:00:41. > :00:45.Amelia Lewis, this is an interesting girl. Level par, but that's very

:00:46. > :01:28.good at this time of the day. with us over the next few days, one

:01:29. > :01:32.of the things to look out for, look at the fashions. I know we are

:01:33. > :01:37.talking about being all shapes and sizes, like the menfolk, but it does

:01:38. > :01:48.fascinate me, the fashions. Style, elegance, so many so different.

:01:49. > :02:02.MAUREEN MADILL: The still on course is Ken Brown. Flattering, very nice.

:02:03. > :02:17.Three perfect tee shots. The breeze is helping, but it a tester. Ko, 17

:02:18. > :02:23.years old. Amazing talent. Almost a veteran, Ken. Almost. You can see it

:02:24. > :02:50.run out, it's a bit fast. She intends to finish her studies at

:02:51. > :02:55.high school. She intends to do a bit of a Michelle Wie, combining that

:02:56. > :03:02.with golf. Paula Creamer not having a very happy day. What's up with

:03:03. > :03:23.her, Ken? She got off to a tough start. The first two are difficult.

:03:24. > :03:30.I think Creamer must have had a call of nature or something.

:03:31. > :03:43.You have to be careful you don't poke her eye out!

:03:44. > :03:52.Just a little drill to make sure she keeps ahead still. She's doing it

:03:53. > :03:57.less now. When she comes down from the top of the backswing to hit the

:03:58. > :03:58.ball, she goes down to sniff at the ball. Cheese should do it far more

:03:59. > :04:11.than she does now. Is this going to get the right

:04:12. > :04:20.bounce? Here she comes. It has slowed up a bit. Good job, though.

:04:21. > :04:33.A good crowd out there, Ken? It is well supported. Michelle Wie, plenty

:04:34. > :04:36.out here this afternoon. Mark James, a former Ryder Cup captain

:04:37. > :04:50.tournament winner and all-round good egg is with this match. Indeed.

:04:51. > :05:42.She hit it 40 odd yards past the pin.

:05:43. > :05:49.This is Matthews' birdie attempt. See, it's still going. It looked as

:05:50. > :06:26.if that was going to be seven or eight feet short.

:06:27. > :06:32.She's here for three. Quite inexplicable, this green seems to be

:06:33. > :06:37.quickening up, because she's just over the back. A simple chip and it

:06:38. > :06:59.just kept on going. This to save bogey on this hole.

:07:00. > :07:21.Another player who started with an albatross around her neck, triple

:07:22. > :07:36.bogey seven at the first. This one is going to come a little

:07:37. > :07:42.bit of the right, doesn't it, Mark? It should do, Maureen. It faded a

:07:43. > :07:48.bit down the hill. The wind is not affecting it hugely but the green

:07:49. > :07:57.does tend to go that way. It's all about speed.

:07:58. > :08:07.If you are going to go at that pace you've got to get the right line.

:08:08. > :08:10.You've got to be so accurate. That is three consecutive bogeys for

:08:11. > :08:20.Suzann Pettersson. If you are going to leave yourself a

:08:21. > :08:24.22 footer, this is the one to leave on this green, uphill from the

:08:25. > :08:33.front. Just a gentle rainbow right-to-left. A par four that

:08:34. > :08:45.doesn't get many trees away. -- threes away.

:08:46. > :08:51.She became a bit of a bit of big U-tube sensation when she holed a 75

:08:52. > :08:57.foot eagle pat on the second play-off hole, to win in Singapore.

:08:58. > :09:01.It was the most outrageous putt you ever saw. Up mountain and down dale.

:09:02. > :09:07.She had the most brilliant reaction to it. Not surprising, because it

:09:08. > :09:10.was her first win in four years, almost four years, which, for a

:09:11. > :09:54.player of her calibre is quite difficult to believe.

:09:55. > :09:59.Lydia Ko, turned professional in October last year. She's paid

:10:00. > :10:04.something like 25 professional tournaments, a lot of them when she

:10:05. > :10:20.was an amateur. She's yet to miss a cut in April event. Very impressive.

:10:21. > :10:38.Two shots dropped to the two previous holes.

:10:39. > :11:09.It sounded as if she got all the club on the ball. But there's a

:11:10. > :11:27.plethora of bunkers there. Impressive, that colour. Visit

:11:28. > :11:39.Hyacinth blue, cobalt blue? I'd call it turquoise.

:11:40. > :11:48.The wind has kicked up a fair bit of this tee. If she gets two big ones

:11:49. > :11:52.away... That's the perfect tee shot. The wind is right to left. It is,

:11:53. > :11:59.pretty much 45 degrees. I like watching her play. I like

:12:00. > :12:24.watching this girl play, too. Great posture. Good shot. Daughter

:12:25. > :12:28.of Peter Korda, the tennis player who won one grand slam in his

:12:29. > :12:32.career, the Australian open. Coincidentally, his daughter's first

:12:33. > :12:33.professional victory was the Australian Open a couple of years

:12:34. > :12:42.ago. Laura has had all sorts of problems

:12:43. > :13:06.on this big 15th. Brough bunker out here.

:13:07. > :13:42.A long, slow swing. A tremendous player. That might be nasty.

:13:43. > :13:48.Paula Creamer debating on the club. The wind has changed, it is now

:13:49. > :13:54.right to left and quartering against.

:13:55. > :14:03.She has to be very accurate to get at the pin. It's one of these greens

:14:04. > :14:08.that suckers you. If you hit the middle of the green, you are never

:14:09. > :14:12.going to be more than 20 feet away. To get at this flag you've got to

:14:13. > :14:22.cut it a bit and get a bit of spin on it.

:14:23. > :14:46.Paula has the had the same caddy, manager and coach for all of her

:14:47. > :14:57.professional career. Very unusual that. Must be doing a good job. Yes.

:14:58. > :15:03.What's she got, Ken, a seven? A seven iron. Very tidy. Very nice

:15:04. > :15:39.swing. Solid. Here's a former winner of the

:15:40. > :15:41.Championship, Jiyai Shin. Won at Sunningdale in 2008. Just a little

:15:42. > :16:15.high with that one. Inbee Park. One over. Another one of

:16:16. > :16:20.those flags perched just on the front of the green. They don't make

:16:21. > :16:45.it easy, the powers that be. Up the hill. The greens have been

:16:46. > :16:50.running at a very nice pace. Chris Whittle and his team have got this

:16:51. > :16:55.course in magnificent order. I really can't think of weapon I've

:16:56. > :17:02.seen it better. Players just loving it. The quality of the putting

:17:03. > :17:12.surfaces and the fairways is terrific.

:17:13. > :17:26.Pettersen is waiting. Laura Davies is putting out. Up ahead Laura is

:17:27. > :17:35.finishing off. Got away with it. If you are a fan of Laura's and you are

:17:36. > :17:39.watching, these would give you the heebie-jeebies, but all is going

:17:40. > :17:52.better in the world of Davies on the putting green at the moment.

:17:53. > :18:00.244 pin. The wind is blowing well, so it is going to take everything

:18:01. > :18:09.she's got to get it there. Ideally a chasy one. The cameraman is walking

:18:10. > :18:21.across the front of the green. She's played anyway. Come round. No! That

:18:22. > :18:24.might be horrid. It could be tucked in against the back bank. A good

:18:25. > :18:46.strike. The ball seems to be lying cleanly

:18:47. > :18:51.in the bunker. Didn't seem to have the depth of sand on it that she

:18:52. > :18:59.expected. Now to 17. Lewis's second. That's a

:19:00. > :19:02.good swing but the wrong direction. Mind those banks and humps. That's

:19:03. > :19:14.horrible. I don't know what happened to her

:19:15. > :19:22.bunker shot but it wasn't a good one. It looked to be lying OK. It

:19:23. > :19:29.was not a good bunker shot. It was in a hanging line, which made it

:19:30. > :19:34.awkward. But it wasn't a good one. Down the slope. Those greens are

:19:35. > :19:41.quickening up a little. That went on a good three feet, Ken. It's not

:19:42. > :19:55.only for a score. I have to think about what the that means on that

:19:56. > :20:06.The club celebrated the 134rd anniversary last Saturday in the

:20:07. > :20:08.Ricoh pavilion. 350 lebrated the 134rd anniversary last Saturday in

:20:09. > :20:13.the Ricoh pavilion. 350 members - wives, boyfriends, girlfriends

:20:14. > :20:16.turned up. A good time was had by all. Strong drink was taken. It all

:20:17. > :20:32.ended up well. A delightful putting action.

:20:33. > :21:03.APPLAUSE Lewis's third shot. Ball sitting up

:21:04. > :21:12.high above her feet. Bunker in the way. Wind behind. No room. Not the

:21:13. > :21:16.most attractive position to be in. We've seen one or two pretty good

:21:17. > :21:26.shots, almost impossible shots, within five or six feet.

:21:27. > :21:35.She's thumped it. It is scampering on, but can't do much about it. A

:21:36. > :21:42.little Reg is helping it back a whisker. Two putts for a par. Do

:21:43. > :21:45.much about it. A little Reg is helping it back a whisker. Two putts

:21:46. > :21:52.for a par -- a little ridge. A real chance with the Pink Panther here.

:21:53. > :22:01.Middle of the green, not chancing anything. It gives you a 25 footer.

:22:02. > :22:15.Would have learnt about the break from Lydia

:22:16. > :22:22.She's gone back to playing conventional style.

:22:23. > :22:27.I wonder if switching around in the grips does anything to make her left

:22:28. > :22:32.thumb feel more comfortable. We were mentioning earlier about the

:22:33. > :22:38.strapping she has on her left hand. Thumb surgery in 2010 put her out of

:22:39. > :22:41.the game for three months. Once you get an injury like that you are

:22:42. > :22:53.always having to maintain its fitness and look after it. It has

:22:54. > :22:59.flared up again recently. Well done. Three par-fives to come.

:23:00. > :23:07.We'll be looking to pick up some shots. A relatively simple bunker

:23:08. > :23:20.shot for Suzann Pettersen. She's been in three bunk bankers already

:23:21. > :23:24.today and not got up and down once. Good sa here. Ot up and down once.

:23:25. > :23:31.Good sand here. -- good sand here. The sand here is

:23:32. > :23:39.used for making high-quality glass. I remember years ago they sold

:23:40. > :23:43.tonnes of it. Just outside the right edge to save a three. Sorry, a four.

:23:44. > :24:06.Well done. Lydia Ko tapping in for her three.

:24:07. > :24:08.This final loop of holes at Royal Birkdale, three par-fives and a

:24:09. > :24:49.par-four. Lewis, 17th for a birdie. This'll be a bonus if it goes in.

:24:50. > :24:59.Well, never running at it, was it? Tap it in for a par. One hole left.

:25:00. > :25:20.Level par. Four for 71. She needs something to happen pretty

:25:21. > :25:26.quick in this round. Three par fives in the last four here. If she gets

:25:27. > :25:42.this she'll be looking at making two more. That was a nice stroke. And an

:25:43. > :25:47.interesting fact, one birdie and two bogeys. Not difficult to pick owl

:25:48. > :25:49.Paula Creamer. Hold your head up... Did it sneak past the trap? Yes,

:25:50. > :26:16.scampering down the fairway, Ken. Matthew for a par. An inexplicably

:26:17. > :26:19.poor third shot and then a really good pitch. And a really good putt.

:26:20. > :26:49.Went in at good pace. Lydia Ko gets a nice flight on her

:26:50. > :26:58.tee shots. Nestled a little bit, but not too bad.

:26:59. > :27:07.Welcome back, Tom. You've come at a good moment. The sun is shining. The

:27:08. > :27:15.girls are in good form. It's been a delightful day hasn't it, Peter?

:27:16. > :27:24.A dangerous bunker down the left. They are like magnets. Won't have to

:27:25. > :27:38.look for that one. That's scampering down.

:27:39. > :27:47.Second at the 16th for Jessica Korda.

:27:48. > :27:58.APPLAUSE A good one.

:27:59. > :28:07.Laura Davies alongside Korda. Still gives it a good old thump. Could be

:28:08. > :28:23.in the sand. Nearly good. At the top of the leaderboard those

:28:24. > :28:31.who are making the greatest impression is Jiyai Shin. 26 years

:28:32. > :28:36.old. She won at Sunningdale and Hoylake a couple of years ago but a

:28:37. > :28:41.record nine shots. She is no longer on the American tour. She's gone

:28:42. > :28:46.back home. She's in the Far East and she wants to rediscover her passion

:28:47. > :28:54.for the game, she said. Many years of grinding away on the tour and the

:28:55. > :29:00.travel caught up with her. She sought a fresh start. Things appear

:29:01. > :29:17.to be working for her, a popular member of the golfing fraternity.

:29:18. > :29:26.The champion here in 2010, with a ten-over par 282. For Yani Tseng.

:29:27. > :29:44.Let's see if things are improving for Laura. Not too bad. One

:29:45. > :29:55.A nasty spot Laura found in the bunker, but behind on the tee

:29:56. > :30:01.Pettersen. A familiar half-swing, a sort of a waggle and briskly into

:30:02. > :30:26.the full swing. She's going to like that one.

:30:27. > :30:40.Catriona Matthew. I don't think she'll get near Pettersen's. She's

:30:41. > :31:16.dragged it a fraction. Stays out of the big stuff though.

:31:17. > :31:24.Found a half decent line to second cut a semi, as it were. The rough

:31:25. > :31:30.about five inches long, so the ball sitting OK. This hole has 15 bunkers

:31:31. > :31:41.on it. I can see eight in front of her. Never an easy lay up here.

:31:42. > :31:51.Looking back up the fairway from the green gives you an idea. She is

:31:52. > :31:57.trying to nudge it down. She's got 262, if she hinted about 140... You

:31:58. > :32:02.must avoid the bunkers and must find the fairway, otherwise you are

:32:03. > :32:10.looking at six on the card. Could she do it with two seven irons, Ken?

:32:11. > :32:17.Yes. She may do it with two eight irons, but two sevens is right.

:32:18. > :32:24.A three quarters punch forward. That's a cagey layout. She's taken

:32:25. > :32:38.the bunkers out of play. Very sensible.

:32:39. > :32:46.Jessica Korda will be next to play. She's a very high hitter, it doesn't

:32:47. > :32:48.always lend itself to links golf. She has a birdie putts here. She's

:32:49. > :33:07.got it. Well done. A nice run of birdies there. Two par

:33:08. > :33:20.fives to come, she's certainly able to get home in two.

:33:21. > :33:31.Good strike. That long, slow swing, timing is all-important, rhythm. If

:33:32. > :33:37.you get a bit hasty it goes off-line. The wind in from slightly

:33:38. > :33:57.off the right here. Misses the rake. It's not for me to

:33:58. > :34:03.say, but I don't know why they leave breaks outside bunkers. I don't

:34:04. > :34:07.believe in it, but there we are. Could have ricocheted off that and

:34:08. > :34:19.gone into the rough. Rakes should be in bunkers, in my opinion.

:34:20. > :34:26.I don't know if your cameras can get a look at her ball, but she's got

:34:27. > :34:31.the most detailed picture of well, it might be herself, painted onto

:34:32. > :34:33.the ball. She have to stop to do that pretty early in the morning! I

:34:34. > :34:57.think she's been a little greedy. Duffy Waldorf used to mark his ball

:34:58. > :34:58.all sorts of colours. His children used to scribble all over them,

:34:59. > :35:12.bizarre! Can she get it up there, Mark? She's

:35:13. > :35:15.got a pretty gnarly line, to be honest. She will have to give it a

:35:16. > :35:19.fair dig, but she can probably get it there. It's 105 yards, but it is

:35:20. > :35:26.uphill into the breeze. She thumbed that way up into the

:35:27. > :35:39.air. Good result. She's been a good player for so many

:35:40. > :35:52.years. Steady, reliable. Lydia Ko at the 15th, her third

:35:53. > :36:02.shot. I don't know what happened there.

:36:03. > :36:04.With all the toing and froing, looking at the maps and at least one

:36:05. > :36:17.club short... You see where that rate is there,

:36:18. > :36:28.the ball coming down there, you'd be a bit cheesed off if that stopped

:36:29. > :36:32.the ball going in a bunker. You are absolutely right, Peter. It's very

:36:33. > :36:40.difficult to know what to do with rakes. Throw them in the bunker!

:36:41. > :36:52.The powers that be don't think like we do. Probably that's a good thing!

:36:53. > :36:57.85 to the pin for Pettersson. Sorry, 85 to the front, 95 to the

:36:58. > :37:30.pin. Pretty simple wedge. Just watch how Miyazato plays, so

:37:31. > :37:41.softly and gracefully. Delightfully played. You are a fan, Ken, I can

:37:42. > :37:45.tell. Oh, I am! You are an old softy! She has more people following

:37:46. > :37:59.her than Tiger Woods does. Speaking about the Japanese fans out

:38:00. > :38:35.there, there's one of them. Oh, no, look at that club face, way

:38:36. > :38:39.open. You always know when you are playing back into the breeze, a

:38:40. > :38:45.bunker shot, you get sand in your face. Unlucky. Another foot and that

:38:46. > :38:54.was stone dead. Very well played, difficult shot.

:38:55. > :39:01.The bunkers here of every uniform. A lot of courses, even the best,

:39:02. > :39:05.sometimes you find a spot in the bunker where there's hardly any

:39:06. > :39:07.sand. But here it is pretty uniform and fairly deep. A good three or

:39:08. > :39:18.four inches at least. Down the hill for Katrina Matthew.

:39:19. > :39:29.This looks very slick. It's all about past. -- pace.

:39:30. > :39:38.Perfect speed. Very easy to run them past four or five feet and missed

:39:39. > :40:08.the one back. The 23-year-old American. The 17th

:40:09. > :40:13.and 18th 18-hole both par fives. Short siding herself, though, Peter.

:40:14. > :40:18.The flat is in an awkward spot. There are at least five or six flags

:40:19. > :40:23.which are exceedingly difficult. Is that a birdie? It's putting straight

:40:24. > :40:39.down a little valley on the green. She's ranked outside of the top 100

:40:40. > :40:43.in putters on the Tour. She used to be one of the best putters on the

:40:44. > :40:48.Tour, but it's just deserted her of late and she is really struggling.

:40:49. > :40:53.The gremlins get into the mind, Peter, I suppose. They certainly do.

:40:54. > :41:05.They do in all sports. Pettersson with this strange

:41:06. > :41:06.movement, dropping that left shoulder. Tucked it towards the

:41:07. > :41:24.whole and its on the right. Play was much easier for the first

:41:25. > :41:29.four hours, maybe five hours this morning. They started here at 6:30am

:41:30. > :41:32.and the last players went off at 3:30 p.m.. They've only just done

:41:33. > :41:40.the first hole now. It's on the fairway, just in the

:41:41. > :42:10.rough. Needs a few birdies at five over,

:42:11. > :42:13.and there is one of them! A good finish for Paula. She may be a

:42:14. > :42:19.little happier than she was midway through the round. A good chance to

:42:20. > :42:24.finish with a flurry of birdies here. It makes it so exciting.

:42:25. > :42:28.Anything can happen, certainly with the long rough. You get all sorts of

:42:29. > :42:33.trouble, you can also make a couple of eagles.

:42:34. > :42:37.After a most delightful little pitch from the front of the green, this is

:42:38. > :42:52.for Ko's par. Very conscious of keeping her head

:42:53. > :42:57.still. Well done. Lovely touch, lovely strike, rhythm. Slowly back

:42:58. > :42:59.and then just type it through, body still. A very competent player, and

:43:00. > :43:30.only 17. This is Shin at the 12th. She had

:43:31. > :43:33.gone back to play in Asia, having spent the majority of her career on

:43:34. > :43:36.the Tour in the United States, had a home in the Atlanta area of Georgia

:43:37. > :43:49.but has now gone back to career. She's a very keen singer. She has

:43:50. > :43:56.released a couple of albums where she sings. Really? Here is an Asti

:43:57. > :44:08.one. Hand and arm shot if you can swing. Don't want any body movement.

:44:09. > :44:17.Very vicious, but she got it out ten or 12 feet away.

:44:18. > :44:28.We were at Tony Jacklin's 70th birthday party on Sunday at the

:44:29. > :44:32.Belfry. He serenaded his wife and accompanied, when your old wedding

:44:33. > :44:36.ring was new. He brought the house down. Jack Nicklaus and his wife

:44:37. > :44:50.were there, Tommy Horton, a good time was had by all.

:44:51. > :44:59.he's given that up. Tried it once, didn't like it. He thought he was

:45:00. > :45:03.going to do a little speaking engagement, a little brown envelope

:45:04. > :45:07.under the pillow, but it ended up costing him about ?25,000, so I

:45:08. > :45:18.don't know if he's too happy about that. But it was a good night. Come

:45:19. > :45:23.on then, Paula. This is quite a wide fairway, but you don't see it unless

:45:24. > :45:27.you are about 8 feet tall. 16 into the breeze. Breeze. A generous

:45:28. > :45:36.fairway. When you get one down it runs like a motorway. This is the

:45:37. > :45:45.famous Arnold Palmer hole from 1960-61.

:45:46. > :45:59.Lewis for a round of 71. There are a handful of American players who play

:46:00. > :46:14.the European Tour and Amelia Lewis is one of those players. She's

:46:15. > :46:26.certainly a worldly player. A little tap-in for 72. A good score.

:46:27. > :46:39.In the last three or four years we've seen an influx of American and

:46:40. > :46:44.European women. The dominance of the Korean women, they've moved aside.

:46:45. > :46:58.It is interesting over the years how the balances swing and sway. Lydia

:46:59. > :47:04.Ko at the 16th. That was a nice one, nearly in Arnold Palmer land. Took a

:47:05. > :47:09.six iron and crashed it out. Almost an unplayable line on to the green.

:47:10. > :47:19.Green. They a little plaque there. Miyazato. To the green. They a

:47:20. > :47:37.little plaque there. Miyazato. -- put a little there.

:47:38. > :47:58.Plaque there. One of her brothers played in the US Open.

:47:59. > :48:10.Here's how things stand on the opening day of the Ricoh Women's

:48:11. > :48:15.British Open. Uehara leads the way. Talked to Mo a while ago and she

:48:16. > :48:23.loves this course. She said as soon as I saw Royal Birkdale, I

:48:24. > :48:28.appreciated it. A wonderful layout. Stacey Lewis from the United States,

:48:29. > :48:54.world number 1. She's lurking on that first page.

:48:55. > :49:06.There'll with high hopes for Charley Hull. There'll with high hopes for

:49:07. > :49:15.Charley Hull. - there'll be. Korda could get it to run up on to

:49:16. > :49:28.the green. But you have got to hit it straight.

:49:29. > :49:38.That's that awkward shot over the sand. Not a good side.

:49:39. > :49:54.Laura a little wayward off the tee. This is her third shot. Into the

:49:55. > :49:59.bunker. The big numbers have really hurt Laura over the last few years.

:50:00. > :50:04.She's played well for 16 holes and had a couple of really big numbers.

:50:05. > :50:08.She's always played that sort of game. Some people might think she's

:50:09. > :50:13.not fulfilled her real potential. Others would say what a wonderful

:50:14. > :50:20.career she's had, which indeed she has. She hasn't won many majors,

:50:21. > :50:26.which always intrigued me. Pettersen now. 250 yards over the left hand

:50:27. > :50:32.hump. 260 to the right bunkers. She'll be looking at somewhere

:50:33. > :50:34.between those two. It is a fraction off the left. She really ripped

:50:35. > :50:45.that. She does drive the ball beautifully

:50:46. > :50:48.and powerfully. Not a big woman but she punches her weight. A beautiful

:50:49. > :51:14.drive. Plenty long enough to get up this

:51:15. > :51:23.par-five. Could do with a couple of which fours to gh to get up this

:51:24. > :51:24.par-five. Could do with a couple of which fours to finish. -- couple of

:51:25. > :51:54.fours to finish. Good shot from Lydia. She won the

:51:55. > :52:02.swimming skirts LPGA classic event. Event: Can anyone play? A Scotsman

:52:03. > :52:12.in a kilt. Could he get away with it? I suppose not.

:52:13. > :52:18.She doesn't like it. It is not too bad, Paula. Better there than that

:52:19. > :52:31.much the other side. Did I read somewhere she was going

:52:32. > :52:39.to marry a famous... Let's watch this first. This is horrid.

:52:40. > :52:51.Unlucky. That was a great out from there to there. Creamer was going to

:52:52. > :52:57.get married to a famous baseball player, did that ever happen, Tom?

:52:58. > :53:03.She's engaged to a fellow in the Air Force. It might be news to him if

:53:04. > :53:10.she's getting married to a famous baseball player! I'm not good at

:53:11. > :53:24.reading. Miyazato, follow that one in. That's

:53:25. > :53:31.It is only for a score. Haven't worked that one out. Creamer got

:53:32. > :53:36.engaged Peter. Her fiance took her up in an aeroplane and she thought

:53:37. > :53:40.they were going to go skydiving. They jumped out of the plane and his

:53:41. > :53:43.friends had go skydiving. They jumped out of the plane and his

:53:44. > :53:48.friends had written, "Will you marry me?" On the ground. She did have a

:53:49. > :53:53.parachute didn't she? That would be the end of a beautiful friendship.

:53:54. > :53:57.Sorry, darling, I was so busy thinking it up I forget to get the

:53:58. > :54:29.kit for you! Laura. Laura received her notification that

:54:30. > :54:35.she was going to become a Dame. She thought it was an invitation to go

:54:36. > :54:41.to the Royal Box at Wimbledon. She opened it up and suddenly she was

:54:42. > :54:52.going to become a Dame. She was told not to tell anybody but she

:54:53. > :55:06.immediately called her brother. A very special honour.

:55:07. > :55:14.That might not have been the greatest strike but parents working

:55:15. > :55:26.well. It is coming along. Just to the edge. Wind farms. I'm not a fan,

:55:27. > :55:31.I must say. They're no good when there's no wind and they are no good

:55:32. > :55:37.when they are too much wind, and they cost a fortune. But what I do

:55:38. > :55:41.know. Ordinary for a birdie -- Korda for a

:55:42. > :56:38.birdie. Drifting away. APPLAUSE We were just talking about

:56:39. > :56:48.her and she does it again. Good girl. That's more like it. Two more

:56:49. > :57:15.fours and you are back in the frame. A little unlucky, Miyazato. Didn't

:57:16. > :57:21.quite carry. Another couple of yards and it would have skidded up to the

:57:22. > :57:27.flag. You are putting up the hill. All I can see is butterflies

:57:28. > :57:36.flitting by. The crickets are chirruping. It is a delightful day

:57:37. > :57:40.to be out here. If you look closely, Ken, you might find a natterjack

:57:41. > :58:25.toad! Or a sand lizard. Laura Davies for a bogey at the

:58:26. > :58:43.17th. Is it only going to be one shot? Yes!

:58:44. > :58:47.200 yards to the front for Catriona Matthew. The pin is on 15. The

:58:48. > :58:52.problem here is threading a needle or hitting it high enough to hit the

:58:53. > :59:02.trap. She's hit it pretty high. That's a gorgeous shot.

:59:03. > :59:05.APPLAUSE. The gorgeous Maureen mad ill has

:59:06. > :59:11.joined us in the box. MAUREEN MADILL: A lovely shot from Catriona

:59:12. > :59:14.Matthew. Beautifully controlled. A soft landing into this notoriously

:59:15. > :00:04.difficult 17th green. Oh, she skipped over that bunker on

:00:05. > :00:09.the left. That's the big danger, that's what Bush are so many players

:00:10. > :00:26.to the right. Two good shots, 516 yards, this par five.

:00:27. > :00:32.Brittany Lang to foolish off with a birdie. -- to finish off with a

:00:33. > :00:54.birdie. STUDIO: A quick reminder of the

:00:55. > :01:13.situation on this opening day. Morgan Pressel in that group on two

:01:14. > :01:18.under par, the headline attraction in that one. Holly Clyburn is the

:01:19. > :01:26.leading Briton so far. Lexi Thompson, the winner of the first

:01:27. > :01:28.major of the year. Level par. No laws also. She is just completing

:01:29. > :01:42.her round, level par. Emma Talley is the reigning US

:01:43. > :01:45.amateur champion. Making her presence felt in the race for the

:01:46. > :01:50.Smith sober salver, that the prize on offer for the leading amateur.

:01:51. > :01:55.Georgia Hall also in that race, from England. She's had a 73 today.

:01:56. > :01:58.Suzann Pettersson, two-time major winner completing her round. All in

:01:59. > :02:09.pink today. 28 different nationalities

:02:10. > :02:11.represented in all in this 144 strong field. It really is one of

:02:12. > :02:27.the big events in the women's game. If you can find the fairway and get

:02:28. > :02:37.a good one way, this green reachable in two. Very impressive. Beautiful

:02:38. > :02:45.pace of swing from Lydia Ko. The rhythm never alters. A couple of

:02:46. > :02:48.bunkers down there on the right-hand side, about 200 and yards out. She

:02:49. > :02:58.has just nestled up past those. Interesting, this course. If you

:02:59. > :03:04.played the wind -- the way the wind blows, two of the par fives seem to

:03:05. > :03:08.be in it. The 17th and 18th, you generally have a bit of helping

:03:09. > :03:10.breeze. It would be nice to finish these last two holes in nine shots

:03:11. > :03:29.and no more. The par fives at Royal but they love

:03:30. > :03:35.very tempting. They do tees you into shots, searching for birdies and

:03:36. > :03:37.even eagles. But if you've just got too greedy, you can run up a big

:03:38. > :03:45.number quite easily. Just a little high. Two beautiful

:03:46. > :04:04.shots to the heart of that green. That's her second birdie of the day.

:04:05. > :04:06.Birdie at the 10th. It gives you a bit of a spring in your step to

:04:07. > :04:30.tackle one final hole today. Georgia Hall made an eagle here in a

:04:31. > :05:07.round of 73. I wonder what happened there. Maybe

:05:08. > :05:14.the ball moved. I think she may have addressed it, Maureen. Well, from

:05:15. > :05:15.this angle it is hard to tell what happened, but she thinks something

:05:16. > :05:24.has happened. She's certainly not happy. She

:05:25. > :05:34.certainly hasn't moved her feet since what ever it was happened.

:05:35. > :05:43.It's going to be one of those impossible situations. Nobody knew

:05:44. > :05:47.the ball except the player. If it moves, it is a shot penalty and

:05:48. > :06:03.replace the ball. It looks like she is sending for a ruling.

:06:04. > :06:11.A rules official has been called. That is very off-putting. You are

:06:12. > :06:20.over an eagle putt, she is trying to get herself on the recovery trail.

:06:21. > :06:24.There's a bit of guesswork, but it looks like she's put the putter

:06:25. > :06:28.behind the ball and the ball has moved, she thinks it has moved. If

:06:29. > :06:31.there's a lot of doubt and they can't determine whether it has

:06:32. > :06:36.moved, then she will just carry on. But if it definitely has moved, she

:06:37. > :06:42.will have to replace it before continuing to putt. We are waiting

:06:43. > :06:50.for a ruling on this 17th green. There's an official looking chap

:06:51. > :07:00.approaching. No, he was bluffing. No, he's just got a tie on.

:07:01. > :07:16.I don't know exactly what's round the corner.

:07:17. > :07:22.There are plenty of rules officials out there, but the way the golf

:07:23. > :07:29.course is laid out at the mound, it's not easy to see them.

:07:30. > :07:36.There's a bit of a holding pattern on the 17th. It's one of those

:07:37. > :07:40.things, it has still got to be her decision as to what happened. Nobody

:07:41. > :07:43.else will have seen it. A rules official, who is going to be

:07:44. > :07:47.summonsed from the other side of the court, is not going to be able to

:07:48. > :07:53.say anything. We've no video evidence because we were on a camera

:07:54. > :08:00.at her back. Mark has got it spot on. The rules official is flying up

:08:01. > :08:28.the fairway in a buggy. It will be interesting to hear the

:08:29. > :08:34.conversation if we can. There was once a European Tour official

:08:35. > :08:39.referee. He told me that his day was spent with hours of waiting for

:08:40. > :08:41.moments of terror. Especially when there's a microphone put in front of

:08:42. > :09:04.your I was almost ready to go and I could

:09:05. > :09:20.almost feel the ball moving. I don't know what caused it.

:09:21. > :09:33.I don't even know how much it moved. Which direction did it move?

:09:34. > :09:49.She was saying she took the putter back and then the ball moved. I

:09:50. > :09:53.think she was asking the official if the wind had moved the ball, whether

:09:54. > :10:07.there would be a penalty, but it didn't look like the official was

:10:08. > :10:12.going to go down that route. Well, here we go again. I suspect this is

:10:13. > :10:26.a birdie putt now, not an eagle putt. She's not wasting much time.

:10:27. > :10:42.Well, how is that for focus? What a recovery by Pettersson there. That

:10:43. > :10:43.is confirmed as a birdie four for Pettersson. She did have a shot

:10:44. > :11:15.penalty. I asked yesterday what the B stands

:11:16. > :11:20.for on her sweater, but her clothing sponsor apparently made her some

:11:21. > :11:23.sweaters with the letter on the front as part of a particular line.

:11:24. > :11:29.She didn't really seem to know why it was so prominent. She went back

:11:30. > :11:34.to Korea last week. She likes to go west when she travels, so she went

:11:35. > :11:35.from the United States to career for a couple of days and headed further

:11:36. > :11:47.round the world to England. Davies, from the ideal angle on 18.

:11:48. > :11:51.Coming in from the left side. Come on! Steady.

:11:52. > :12:00.Laura still able to hit shots at four.

:12:01. > :12:04.Really fighting six she made at the last. If she could tiptoe this one

:12:05. > :12:16.in, she'd be in good shape. Paula Creamer, the ball above her

:12:17. > :12:32.feet but it is certainly in range, the breeze helping.

:12:33. > :12:39.Paula trying to finish with a flurry of birdies, but it's been difficult.

:12:40. > :12:53.I'm not sure where it has finished, a lot of thick rough over there.

:12:54. > :13:04.Paula Creamer avoided the trap. She wants a reasonable live there.

:13:05. > :13:24.Miyazato, nice, flat life. Can she read it through the gap? --

:13:25. > :13:30.thread it. No, she can't. She has a bit of work to do on the short game

:13:31. > :13:37.here. Both for Miyazato and Creamer. From Kanawa. Miyazato, another

:13:38. > :14:00.famous Japanese player, also from Kanawa, but they are not related.

:14:01. > :14:05.MAUREEN MADILL: Laura Davies' group has reached the final green. Jessica

:14:06. > :14:43.Korda will be first to go. of form this year. Steady. Last year

:14:44. > :14:48.was one of Jessica's most consistent. She didn't miss a cut

:14:49. > :14:50.all year. She's had three or four miscuts already this year but two

:14:51. > :15:02.victories. Lydia Ko at the 17th. A lovely

:15:03. > :15:11.approach. Good birdie chance coming up. Looking very promising in this

:15:12. > :15:18.week. Goes about her business. Not a care in the world. 17 years of age

:15:19. > :15:29.travelling the world playing golf. An eagle putt for Laura. Instead of

:15:30. > :15:41.turning right to left it took a little shunt left to right.

:15:42. > :16:02.Take your time, Laura. This for a 75.

:16:03. > :16:12.Well done. APPLAUSE

:16:13. > :16:16.you can't win it on day one but you can certainly put yourself right out

:16:17. > :16:21.of it. I don't think Laura will be too displeased with that. All you

:16:22. > :16:25.can do from here is get it out really. Right up against the lip, it

:16:26. > :16:49.was. A very awkward spot. Tight right.

:16:50. > :16:54.Not a bad angle. A bit of an upslope. If she pitches this just on

:16:55. > :17:01.the front or short of the green, it will come out the topspin. May get

:17:02. > :17:16.inside 6-8 feet. APPLAUSE

:17:17. > :17:22.Very well played by Creamer. She was a touch lucky to miss that bunker on

:17:23. > :17:31.the left. That's the real killer on this hole. You've got a 50-50 chance

:17:32. > :17:45.on the left of getting a semi decent lie. At the 18th awaiting in the

:17:46. > :17:59.fairway Catriona Matthew. Waiting for Jessica Korda to finish off.

:18:00. > :18:05.This for 72. Jessica Korda went out in 39, a horrible start. Double

:18:06. > :18:10.bogeyed the first and the second and the fifth hole but bounced right

:18:11. > :18:35.back. Four birdies in the last nine holes. It is a 72 72: Wall of death.

:18:36. > :19:01.Super. A good angle into the heart of the

:19:02. > :19:05.green for Matthew. Pushed it a fraction. It runs away off the back

:19:06. > :19:10.of this green. Although that might look flat on your screen, she's

:19:11. > :19:13.coming up a significant rise on to the putting surface. She'll have to

:19:14. > :19:23.come across a spine that runs through the green.

:19:24. > :19:39.She's got plenty of green to work with. Tremendous galleries here on

:19:40. > :19:51.the opening day. Folks coming out to enjoy the golf.

:19:52. > :20:09.This is an awkward spot, tucked behind the right trap. She's a very

:20:10. > :20:16.determined player, Paula Creamer, and she is very loyal. Only ever had

:20:17. > :20:21.one caddy, one sponsor, one ball sponsor and one management company

:20:22. > :20:45.since she turned professional. That's quite unusual.

:20:46. > :21:09.Needed a fraction more. A big tee shot from Pettersen. Doesn't look

:21:10. > :21:17.anything more than a five iron going in here.

:21:18. > :21:21.She's got to hope that's run off the corner of the bunker and settled in

:21:22. > :21:33.the centre of it. You can get some very walk ward stances in there.

:21:34. > :21:38.Back at the 17th, Lydia Ko may have learned something from Paula

:21:39. > :21:47.Creamer. They were on a similar line. It is very awkward green,

:21:48. > :21:52.this. Not quite as undulating as it was in the 2008 Open Championship

:21:53. > :22:06.when Harrington successfully defended.

:22:07. > :22:26.Back to back birdies. This is going to be a par if she knocks this one

:22:27. > :22:42.in. OK. Still in secondary school,

:22:43. > :22:47.although she lives about 6,000 miles from the school that she attends.

:22:48. > :22:56.She does a lot of work on the computer, trying to complete her

:22:57. > :23:09.schooling. Lydia is alongside Stacey Lewis. One-under par.

:23:10. > :23:32.Mika Miyazato. At level par. Nice touch from Miyazato.

:23:33. > :23:38.For a player who is struggling, Maureen, putting together a good

:23:39. > :23:42.number on a difficult course like this will give her confidence. If

:23:43. > :23:48.she could finish with a birdie. Yes, a lot of people forget she was world

:23:49. > :23:54.number one four years ago. She's a classy player.

:23:55. > :24:01.Catriona from the back of this green. Let's see what club she has

:24:02. > :24:05.in her hands. One of her lofted ones. Up over the bumps and hollows

:24:06. > :24:22.but not enough. Another awkward stance here for

:24:23. > :24:52.Suzann. Got to be the easiest hole on the

:24:53. > :25:12.course today. A par-five down the breeze. Just avoid the bunkers.

:25:13. > :25:21.Ta two. That's out on four, so she regrouped after the personality shot

:25:22. > :25:25.on the last green. She rolled in a very good putt. Now she's going to

:25:26. > :25:28.have to regroup just to hold this one for par. Mental focus is all

:25:29. > :25:35.important now. Lydia Ko looking a little concerned.

:25:36. > :26:12.Just down the right side. Shiho Ohyama. Quickly back to the

:26:13. > :26:40.tee for Miyazato. Just staying in the shorter grass.

:26:41. > :26:42.Back to the green at 18. Oh, look at that!

:26:43. > :26:46.APPLAUSE A good indication of the way the

:26:47. > :26:52.ball turns at the hole there Maureen. Yes, I think Catriona

:26:53. > :27:00.Matthew will be coming from the same side. Ohyama finishing her round in

:27:01. > :27:04.a flurry of fives. If she knocks that in for a par it will be her

:27:05. > :27:23.sixth consecutive five to finish. A good time to welcome back Peter

:27:24. > :27:29.Alliss. PETER ALLISS: Thank you Tom. Let's look at the scores at the

:27:30. > :27:36.bottom of your screen. Anything 74 and under is very good. Less than 16

:27:37. > :27:41.players have broken at par or better so far. It hasn't been the easiest

:27:42. > :27:50.of days, although this morning it was a lot easier than it is now.

:27:51. > :27:58.Catriona Matthew. Not played a very good chip. An

:27:59. > :28:10.untidy three from the edge. Pity. It was a well-stuck second shot. Just

:28:11. > :28:13.went through the back. You can't afford to relax here at Royal

:28:14. > :28:42.Birkdale. Suzann Pettersen. A few ups and

:28:43. > :28:47.downs over the last 45 minutes. MAUREEN MADILL: I think you said

:28:48. > :28:51.Peter, you Captain afford to relax your concentration one I oat to. L:

:28:52. > :28:54.I think you said Peter, you Captain afford to relax your concentration

:28:55. > :29:04.one I oat to -- one iota. The course can jump up and bite you at any

:29:05. > :29:06.point. Even par-fives, Suzann is going to have to graft hard not to

:29:07. > :30:05.drop a shot. Ko found the central bunker and has

:30:06. > :30:09.splashed out, waiting for Creamer, she's got a signed right between her

:30:10. > :30:11.and the green. It is supposed to be removable. It doesn't look very

:30:12. > :30:27.removable to me. MAUREEN MADILL: And uncomfortable

:30:28. > :30:29.round for her today of 80. 74 for Katrina Matthew and a brave 72 for

:30:30. > :30:45.Suzann Pettersson. I have to say, I'm not surprised

:30:46. > :30:49.that this is happening. A few of those signs were fairly adjacent to

:30:50. > :31:03.the fairways and some of the lines the players will be taking.

:31:04. > :31:08.PETER ALISS: Who said it wasn't windy? There's no sense of urgency,

:31:09. > :31:22.you take your time. The winner of the US Open a couple

:31:23. > :31:46.of times in the background there. Can you take me through the process?

:31:47. > :31:51.Popping it in the thick stuff, by the look of it. That's not so canny.

:31:52. > :32:10.In my be best to leave it where it is.

:32:11. > :32:17.I thought the signs were all movable obstructions. Obviously this one

:32:18. > :32:22.isn't. You've got to find the nearest point of relief. Then

:32:23. > :32:27.dropped within one club length of that, or play it, because he could

:32:28. > :32:36.drop it in a dodgy life. She doesn't have to take relief. This seems to

:32:37. > :32:40.me to be a bit silly, if she dropped it from there.

:32:41. > :32:45.PETER ALISS: doesn't make a lot of sense to me. She does have a low

:32:46. > :32:46.flight. I would have thought she could have rattled one over the top

:32:47. > :33:01.of their no bother. 235 yards, if she can get some sort

:33:02. > :33:09.of hybrid she can flip it over the top of that no problem at all. You

:33:10. > :33:14.couldn't shift this on your own, Ken.

:33:15. > :33:24.I didn't know it was an option, get it out of the way or drop round it.

:33:25. > :33:26.Anyway. Another example of why it takes five or six hours to get round

:33:27. > :33:37.a golf course. You couldn't say she was too far off

:33:38. > :34:04.the fairway, Peter. The ingenuity of humanity is

:34:05. > :34:11.fantastic. Who would have thought of that! The key thing here for Paula,

:34:12. > :34:19.if she's going to miss it, is to the right. She doesn't want to end up in

:34:20. > :34:25.a bunker, 60 or 70 yards from the green. She shouldn't do that.

:34:26. > :34:36.It looks like she's going to lay out after all. Looks a bit loft on this

:34:37. > :34:41.club. She's going to flip it over the top with a middle iron. Much ado

:34:42. > :34:48.about nothing there. I thought she was going to whip out the three or

:34:49. > :34:51.four wooden and give it a crack, but no! This is not easy, those bunkers

:34:52. > :34:58.right in play. She played nicely down into the

:34:59. > :35:30.bunkers. This is the US amateur champion,

:35:31. > :35:36.Emma Talley. Building a very nice score.

:35:37. > :35:49.College mate of Stefanie Michl, attends the University of Alabama.

:35:50. > :35:57.She can barely see the top of the flag. She is not the tallest of

:35:58. > :36:02.glasses. She found a nice line in the first cut of rough.

:36:03. > :36:14.The wind behind, hard turf and she doesn't hit it that high.

:36:15. > :36:36.A bit tight on there. The wind has dropped a bit, Ken. Just ease off a

:36:37. > :36:41.bit. It has. Maybe the late starters could have a good part of the day,

:36:42. > :36:49.like the early starters. It's been pretty steady all this afternoon,

:36:50. > :36:58.probably from about midday. It was very calm until 11 a.m..

:36:59. > :37:05.Missed the bunker. Is she in the bunker? It was never going to quite

:37:06. > :37:41.make it. That might not be too bad. MAUREEN MADILL: Shin, along with

:37:42. > :38:42.Emma Talley, the group on 15. A nice little putt.

:38:43. > :38:56.PETER ALISS: Port -- Paula Creamer lining up this shot of hers. Dame

:38:57. > :39:05.Laura Davies wants to eliminate a lot of the caddy's duties.

:39:06. > :39:13.She also wants to eliminate her ever having to take more than a second

:39:14. > :39:22.putt. That's on a technicality, of course.

:39:23. > :39:26.The crestfallen shoulders of Paula. Well, it's on the green. I've seen

:39:27. > :39:54.worse. Good, strong swing. Excellent stuff.

:39:55. > :40:01.I'm not quite sure that looks as if it's over near Arnold Palmer's

:40:02. > :40:08.plaque there. Emma Talley played top in the singles for the United States

:40:09. > :40:19.in the Curtis cup back row cop. Alongside her is Shin. Two-time

:40:20. > :40:24.winner of this Championship. In fact, her win in 2008 pretty much

:40:25. > :40:33.launched her career. Enabled her to go and play in America.

:40:34. > :40:39.Here is a little trick. It looked like she was lining up to chip this

:40:40. > :40:46.to the right of the bunker and use the ground, get it up five or six

:40:47. > :40:47.feet right to the pin. She's going to try and switch back through the

:40:48. > :40:52.little valley. Remember Seve Ballesteros, that shot

:40:53. > :41:19.between the trap speeder? That has not gone far. Still in big

:41:20. > :41:36.trouble. Found a nice lie on the upslope. You

:41:37. > :41:54.need a delicate touch. That was a little bit sharp,

:41:55. > :42:02.Maureen. Too much club on ball. Yes, she could hear that actually. She

:42:03. > :42:08.was champion ten years ago, when she had that magnificent start at

:42:09. > :42:12.Sunningdale. That was unbelievable. She's got her husband, Bobby, on the

:42:13. > :42:21.bag again this week, that's a very rare occurrence now. She has pretty

:42:22. > :42:25.much retired from playing. Has she? Yes, she's building a broadcasting

:42:26. > :42:33.career in the States. This is the last year her exemption for the open

:42:34. > :42:42.Championships. No, you clean it, she says. That's what I pay you for! If

:42:43. > :42:52.she does get into broadcasting and follows in the footsteps of Judy

:42:53. > :42:59.ranking -- Rankin, since she retired from playing tournament golf, lovely

:43:00. > :43:03.lady. Judy Rankin in the commentary box this weekend, I believe. She

:43:04. > :43:10.will be here, all of our friends from America.

:43:11. > :43:30.We haven't seen many putts hold on this final green today. We haven't

:43:31. > :43:36.seen any hold altogether, have we? Subtle breaks plus a bit of speed in

:43:37. > :43:45.them. If you look at her putting stroke, this is a beauty.

:43:46. > :43:54.It was always drifting off. It looks like a par to finish. A round of 71.

:43:55. > :44:27.It's OK. She's been in a dog fight all day.

:44:28. > :44:35.Starting four-over par after three holes. Now she's three over after

:44:36. > :45:01.17. One final chance of a birdie. She never stops fighting.

:45:02. > :45:14.The grandstands are practically full. A few people are dangling out

:45:15. > :45:30.of the hospitality. Is that a good sign? Oh, I thought she had done it

:45:31. > :45:40.again. APPLAUSE

:45:41. > :45:50.They'll be back in a few weeks at Evan. Will you be going there,

:45:51. > :45:54.Maureen? I won't be there but it is the most beautiful spot in the

:45:55. > :45:58.world. And they've improved the course very much over the years. And

:45:59. > :46:05.in keeping with it now being a mainly Championship the women have

:46:06. > :46:17.five majors to play for. Come on, make uncle Ken happy. Tap this one

:46:18. > :46:24.in. No. It's been that type of day for Miyazato. She is such a big name

:46:25. > :46:47.in Japan. Any score is better than 74 today.

:46:48. > :47:05.You are still right in it. Absolutely.

:47:06. > :47:34.A 5-6 finish for Lydia Ko, which is not good. Both holes reachable in

:47:35. > :47:52.two. 75 for Paula Creamer. Certainly not

:47:53. > :47:59.out of it. That's very good after that start. One par and four drop

:48:00. > :48:04.shots. There it is, I was here on that fateful day, when he smashed

:48:05. > :48:10.one out of the bulrushes on the 16th. He managed to get it on the

:48:11. > :48:14.green. It was grey and dark, a bit of rain. Arnold was already on his

:48:15. > :48:25.second packet of cigarettes by the time we reached the 16th.

:48:26. > :48:41.And a final par for Miyazato. 72. Fine play indeed. Caddies get a hug.

:48:42. > :48:44.You wouldn't hug many caddies in my day. Had a whiff of the countryside

:48:45. > :49:08.about them. Interlocking group. I've noticed one

:49:09. > :49:21.or two women useling that trip. Em. -- using that trip. Oh, into the

:49:22. > :49:26.bunker. I was disappointed there was very little coverage of the Curtis

:49:27. > :49:36.Cup in the newspapers. Newspaper coverage of women's golf seems to

:49:37. > :49:42.have dried up considerably. It is all digital media now Peter.

:49:43. > :49:52.A good shot from Jiyai Shin. Splendid shot. Enormously successful

:49:53. > :50:00.players and they just drift away from the top. Another look at

:50:01. > :50:02.Arnold's plaque, July 1961. Wasn't the green sited further back at that

:50:03. > :50:20.time? No, in the same place. 17 for the par 3. They've moved that

:50:21. > :50:28.and put in the it'sth. 17 for the par 3. They've moved that and put in

:50:29. > :50:34.the it'sth -- 12th. The college sect in America is very strong indeed.

:50:35. > :50:43.These young players get on to their Curtis Cup team and seem to be able

:50:44. > :50:49.seamlessly to transition to the professional game. They play to a

:50:50. > :50:51.very high Stade e professional game. They play to a very high Stade

:50:52. > :50:55.there. -- standard there. I've mentioned before it was Swedes

:50:56. > :51:00.originally, then Koreans and Japanese, Thais. And now the

:51:01. > :51:06.pendulum has swung again and the same with European women that come

:51:07. > :51:15.and go. There's quite an international board there. Five

:51:16. > :51:20.different nationalities. You are right, the American players have

:51:21. > :51:27.really come on. They put it down to getting hammered in the Solheim Cup

:51:28. > :51:33.in Colorado. They say it gave them a huge reality check. The Asian women

:51:34. > :51:37.were taking all the honours there. From five years back there were

:51:38. > :51:44.hardly any American women worth their salt at all. During the alt at

:51:45. > :51:55.all. During the summer -- enjoying the summer sunshine.

:51:56. > :52:04.A very friendly club, Royal Birkdale. There are about 150 lady

:52:05. > :52:09.members. A lot of young women play. Don't ask me why. They love their

:52:10. > :52:23.golf. Blue skies. Lovely to see. Let's

:52:24. > :52:33.hope it stays for another ten or 12 days. I would like to go to Hoylake

:52:34. > :52:50.with some sunshine away. Keep away Mr Rehn clouds. -- keep away, rain

:52:51. > :53:13.This will move a little left to right.

:53:14. > :53:28.Too high. It just seemed to pull a fraction off the blade. That was a

:53:29. > :53:35.great opportunity missed. Interesting that Jiyai has gone back

:53:36. > :53:41.to Korea. Sounds like it was a mini burnout. Korean players work so hard

:53:42. > :53:52.that they can only sustain it for a number of years. Then they need to

:53:53. > :54:15.take a break. This for a six. It disappeared. Talley for par. That

:54:16. > :54:26.was a bold putt of youth wasn't it? Talley.

:54:27. > :54:51.How old is this girl then? 19, 20? I think she's 20-21. Looks a wonderful

:54:52. > :54:55.prospect for the future. The afternoon of this first day of the

:54:56. > :55:01.Ricoh Women's British Open Championship, still a good hours

:55:02. > :55:06.left of play. It is Uehara of Japan with the one-shot lead. At the

:55:07. > :55:12.moment only eight women are-under par. This Royal Birkdale proving

:55:13. > :55:18.very challenging so far. Karrie Webb at level par. Four shots behind. The

:55:19. > :55:25.likes of Nordqvist, a double winner on the LPG, steady. Lydia Ko

:55:26. > :55:31.finished off with a 72. Emma Talley in the leading stakes. If we whizz

:55:32. > :55:36.straight through past the likes of Jiyai Shin and Sharp of Canada you

:55:37. > :55:42.will see shortly the name of which Laura Davies. Laura came home with a

:55:43. > :55:49.three-over par round of which 75 today. The newly made Dame has been

:55:50. > :55:57.chatting to me. I was somewhat star struck by the whole thing. And with

:55:58. > :56:01.me is Dame Laura Davies. I'm going to say that again, Dame Laura

:56:02. > :56:07.Davies. I like saying it. Do you like hearing it? I do yes, it is

:56:08. > :56:12.nice. You never expect something like that but it is the pinnacle of

:56:13. > :56:21.my career. It has given all my mates to take the Nicky but what an

:56:22. > :56:28.honour. Has there been lots of curtsying and curling? Yes, they are

:56:29. > :56:34.doing that. People have always been kind to me when I play golf in this

:56:35. > :56:41.country. There was a cheer on the fairway. I told the starter not me

:56:42. > :56:44.when I play golf in this country. There was a cheer on the fairway. I

:56:45. > :56:47.told the starter not to say "Dame" but he did. This is an event you

:56:48. > :56:51.have a wonderful affiliation with, 30 years and going strong. I played

:56:52. > :56:57.much better than 3 over. I had problems on 16 and 17. Not even that

:56:58. > :57:02.bad a shot. I thought I hit a perfect drive down 17 and I'm in

:57:03. > :57:07.neck high rough, making a really good bogey. I nearly went in

:57:08. > :57:11.apparently but the birdie was a nice way then if. If we can shoot a

:57:12. > :57:16.couple in the early round, get back into contention. I feel like my game

:57:17. > :57:21.as good. Good. We haven't seen you at the weekend since 2010, but this

:57:22. > :57:24.is clearly a course you have a wonderful affinity with having won

:57:25. > :57:28.here in '86. I think it is the fairest of the links courses. If you

:57:29. > :57:32.hit a good shot you are in a good spot. Some of them you can fundle

:57:33. > :57:38.into the bunksers and you are chipping out backwards. This one, if

:57:39. > :57:43.you hit the good shots you get rewarded. Good to see you, thank

:57:44. > :57:48.you. Thank you. She's still the same old Laura. That's a very good thing.

:57:49. > :57:52.This is the start of almost two weeks-worth of top golfing action on

:57:53. > :57:59.the BBC. Next week we are heading 28 miles south of Liverpool to the

:58:00. > :58:05.other side of Merseyside, Hoylake, Royal Liverpool. That's for the

:58:06. > :58:29.143rd open Championship. A great stretch of coastline this.

:58:30. > :58:37.Where we see a magnificent landscape, they see hostile terrain.

:58:38. > :58:42.The magic of the Open starts 17th July across the BBC. One week today.

:58:43. > :58:48.Two weeks worth of great golf on the BBC is well under way. We'll be back

:58:49. > :58:51.tomorrow on BBC Two at 1 o'clock with day two of this great

:58:52. > :58:53.Championship the other side of Liverpool. Hope to catch you then.

:58:54. > :59:06.Bye-bye for now. MUSIC: "Edward Scissorhands

:59:07. > :59:09.Introduction" by Danny Elfman