Day 1 Golf: Women's British Open

Hello. We are back at Woburn Golf Club in Bedfordshire and it feels a

bit like we've come home. This may be the 40th anniversary of the Ricoh

Women's British Open Championship but this place on one of its three

places, the Duke's course was so influential on helping to grow this

great Championship in its early years. Thoughtfully nine years in

the 80s and 90s this place was hugely influential and attracted an

evermore international field and producing some wonderful champions,

the likes of America's Patty Sheehan, Swedes Helen Alfredsson and

a feisty fiery Australian Karrie Webb, who won the first of her three

British Open titles right here two decades ago. She, of course, has

gone on to become one of the true greats of the winning's game. So,

Woburn was in effect the launch pad for her career, as indeed it has

been for this great event. Because, it was given major status in 2001,

and has since travelled around the country to some of the most storeyed

courses. The likes of St Andrews and Turnberry, Carnoustie and Royal

Birkdale. And now, after 17 years, we are back. Only this time, we are

going to tackle the newest of Woburn's three courses, the Marquess

Course offer what is the fourth of the world's top 50

players, although our defending champion Inbee Park, is sadly not

amongst them. After completing the career Grand Slam at Turnberry last

year, the South Korean has been troubled by a hand injury for most

of this season and will instead be at a tempting to be ready for the

real Olympics in a couple of weeks' time. So without Inbee the focus of

attention is on golf's new generation. Youth is trending in

women's golf and how. The world number one Lydia Ko is only 19 years

old. The latest teenage major sensation Brooke Henderson of Canada

is only 18, and Brittany Lang, the newly crowned US Open champion is a

relatively ancient 30 years of age. But there is one young woman in this

field who perhaps knows this layout and this place better than anyone. A

lot of attention this week on Woburn's own Charley Hull.

I do feel a lot of pressure, but at the end of the day it's something

you've got to deal with. So, tell us about your so far. You

had a great finish. Does that give you the confidence in Majors to

think you belong here, you can do this? It does, definitely. I've

actually played quite well in a couple of the other Majors,

especially that one, it gives me a good feeling and lets me know how to

do with the pressure coming down the stretch.

You know, I still wake up some mornings and can't believe I'm the

US Open women's champion. It's definitely something all Americans

dream of winning. I know not only Americans but it is a dream come

true to have my family there. It was so special and sometimes I can't

believe it, I have to see the pictures to believe it really

happened. It is a huge turning point in my career. I've always liked

Dunne lacked a bit of confidence and it gives me lots of confidence and I

just have to keep remembering it. Sometimes if you say, I want to win

ten tournaments this season, it can become, I'm realistic. If somebody

plays better it is out of my hands. I like to set minor goals and goals

that I can work on, and eventually because I'm better I've got more

chances of winning Championships. It's amazing here. The landscape is

so beautiful, the old buildings, the churches, the history, it's all

incredible and I love this golf course. It's a little bit more

traditional than growing up in Canada, it's like a lot of the

courses they there so I look forward to the week and having four solid

days. I've never really been a long hitter, I've always had the mindset

that when I do have an irony in my hand, try and go for it, take it as

an advantage -- iron in my hand. And take it from there. It's the club I

feel most comfortable with. The long game is my strength and the short

game I've been working on, so I have to make sure I hit lots of good

shots this week and get on a good place to give myself an opportunity

to hit it into the green. The greens can be tricky, early on you have to

hit some good iron shots and figure out the brakes because the greens

are undulating. Around the greens is where everybody will score, or not

score. Being a good pace putter, hitting it to the right spots, into

the bowls or the slopes to get it closest will be the key. These

greens are sneakily undulating. You can't really see them when you are

far away but when you are close up you are able to see the subtle

slopes. I feel like it breaks a bit more than what it looks like, so the

plotting is going to be the key for this week.

And, guess who is number one in the putting stats on the American Tour

right now? Lydia Ko, the world number one, and she leads the way in

so many respects in this game right now. Now, as you may know, South

Korean golfers have donated the rankings in the upper echelons of

those rankings for the last ten, 15 years, there are five in the top ten

and 30 in the top 50. Leading everyone and flying the flag for New

Zealand is Lydia Ko, the kiwi is the youngest man or woman ever to ascend

to the world number one spot and she is celebrating her 40th week there.

Another teenage phenomenon Brooke Henderson is hot on her heels after

landing the year's second major in Washington in June.

So, this year's conditions are a contrast to the links conditions and

wind and rain that these players experienced at Turnberry and other

causes over the last few years. It is parkland and heathland all the

way over the next four days as we bring you live coverage of this

great event. Let me show you who amongst Dunne where those first out

on the opening morning. Dame Laura Davies, with Norway's Suzann

Pettersen and her Solheim Cup partner Alison Lee. This is the

first time they played together since the controversial incident at

the Ryder Cup last year in Germany which has become a notorious talking

point in the history of the Europe versus America rivalry. Early start

for Canada's Brooke Henderson, making her second appearance in the

event, Anna Nordqvist and Spain's Azahara Munoz. Momoko Ueda for the

seventh time here from Japan, playing with former world number one

Stacy Lewis of America and one of the inform players of the year,

Harrier jet Anna Gunn of Thailand. She made the early running today.

She was already 3-under when she came to the ninth. This is the start

of a great run for the first Thai player ever to win on the LPGA Tour

earlier in the season. Good things come in threes for her right now.

This approach to the 10th enabled her to dive down to 5-under for

around. The 20-year-old won three titles in a row in Alabama, Virginia

and Michigan in May and June earlier this season. That was a stone dead

birdie on the making. And a third would follow in succession at the

11th. The world number six in enjoying a really dominant start to

her round. Just as she is enjoying a quite stunning breakthrough season.

So, it is Jutanugarn, her older sister is also in the field and this

is a look at things on a bright sunny morning 50 miles north of

London at Woburn on the opening day of the women's major Championship.

It is Ariya by a shot from Azahara Munoz and Beatriz Recari, the fellow

Spaniard, in the group on 4-under par. Sei Young Kim having a good

season and Stacy Lewis, a two-time major winner, and another major

winner, So Yeon Ryu, at 4-under as well. It is stacking up quite

nicely. The big names are congregating near the top and Ken

Brown is on the course and in the commentary box we have Andrew

Cotter, Rory Madel and Peter Alice watching it unfold.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel, and welcome on this beautiful day to

Woburn Abbey and the Marquess Course. Many years ago the great

Henry Longhurst, who wrote for many years for the Sunday Times, used to

say aren't we lucky? Those of us involved in the game of golf, it

takes us to so many beautiful places. And by Jove he was right,

for this is absolutely magnificent. We're here for four days, and I'm

sure if the weather is kind you are going to enjoy it almost as much as

we are. Azahara Munoz has started with a lot of birdies. 5-under par,

no dropped shots so far today. Sit down, sit down. Speaking to it in

English but it is not obeying. Peter, this is a real feature of

this golf course, which you had more than a small hand in designing. The

greens tend to throw the ball off quite a lot, don't they? They do. It

was Clive Clark and myself. Clive Platt predominantly, who designed

this golf course. And it was an absolute jungle of rhododendrons and

ferns. Seeing him cutting his way through with a machete he found some

wonderful locations. It's a delightful course. Our first look at

Brooke Henderson, the world number two, young 18-year-old Canadian. The

first Canadian player to win a major since Mike Weir won the Masters in

2004. She doesn't usually hold back. Strong, strong swing there. She's

already annexed a major into her CV this year, beating Lydia Ko in a

play-off in the second major of the year. Women's golf is in fine shape.

Here's another young player, one of the Jutanugarn's, this is Ariya,

thankfully she prefers to be known as May. How about that. Into the

13th and that is setting up a really good birdie chance for her.

Recari at the 17th, the last of the short holes. Quite a big green, wide

and narrows. That is a nice, generous flag position today. In the

middle of the new Forest. Absolutely fabulous. Alison Lee, American

Solheim Cup player. There was a little bit of mischief making going

on, I think, in this grouping because it's Alison Lee, Suzann

Pettersen, remember they had a bit of a kerfuffle last year at the

Solheim Cup over whether it was a conceded putt. But they are old pals

again. Recari now, second shot, on the edge of the bunker. Stabs it out

and up. A number of good Spaniards in the field. We have Recari and

Munoz out early doors and Carlota Ciganda coming later. They are all

here with the coach. It must have been fun carving the holes out of

this dense terrain. Clive lost about four inches and three stone! Now,

from one Spaniard to another. We get a good view, she is walking quite

severely downhill here. The greens tend to be on quite a tilt. This

will be a fairly slow chip up the green. Just toppled over the back of

the green. On the bank. It is super loud. I can hear everything. The

days of chipping... Good job you can't see everything.

Interesting, you hardly ever see anyone chipping now with a 7-iron,

it's always a 9-iron or a wage. Interesting change of tactics.

Floaty one coming down the slope from there, Peter. It is pretty

quick if you get above the cup. Nicely played. -- 9-iron or a wedge.

Nice crisp sound there of the chip shot, the course is beautifully

prepared. Stacy Lewis at the 13th. She has allowed a lot of swing on

that. Round she comes. Round, just not quite high enough. Good effort.

Susan Simpson of the LG you was telling us earlier in the week that

the green speeds are running at 11 but with these severe slopes, when

you get a putt like that down the hill it is pretty slippery.

Sei Young Kim, now, one of the very long hitters on the women's Tour.

This is for birdie on 17. She has won twice already in

America. That one's tracking. Downhill, superfast, uphill, you

need a bit of hitting. Now, putt for a birdie. What about

this one, Ken? It's a bit from the right and a little bit slower than

you think. Striking pair of trousers on, aren't they? Recari for a par at

the 17th, in the bunker from the tee shot, and it may be... How could

that Miss? Dropped shot. Yes, and the par threes have not been kind to

her. That's her third dropped shot on the par-3s. Azahara Munoz. Saving

her par-3 on 14, very nice up and down. She keeps the momentum going,

remains at 5-under. And there is a look at the leaderboard. Aintree up

at the front on 6-under par closely followed by Munoz, and then you can

see how good the scoring is, a raft of fours and threes.

Stacy Lewis. Tee shot at the 14th. Across the valley, up the slope, it

kicks away a bit. Not pleased. I bet she can give you a nasty drive --

dry Burnham dot-mac The tee shot across the valley,

quite a long shot. Here is our leader.

The heart of the green, it has gone to the back of it, but OK.

Nordqvist, Anna Nordqvist. The runner-up in the US women's open.

Beaten in the play-off by Brittany Lang. She accidentally grounded her

club and had a two shot penalty. She's played really well this year.

Delightful looking back at the 15th, and on many of these holes you drive

across the little valley. This is a long snaking par-5 of a hole.

Heavily bunkered down here, you have to plot your way. You feel there is

a wee bit more room because the trees are slightly further apart

than they are on the front nine. But you can see the clever bunkering.

Here is a swing you will enjoy, Peter. It is aggressive. It is. It

is a good old welly. She looks like she can play. Quick -ish rhythm.

Boom. I love it. A good old spank. It is skippering away up the

fairway. Well done. -- skipping. Laura Davies, one of

the stalwarts of women's golf, Dame Laura. What a great character and

talent she has been in this game for, well, we won't say how many

years, it is not gallant. She is 1-over par. She still seems to enjoy

the game as much as ever. Perhaps not quite as much when you miss a

few of those dodgy putts. But from long range, here she goes. I say, I

say, Laura, Laura. Well, a little bit on the upslope

for Lewis at 14. She just has to be very careful she doesn't take it a

trifle heavy. Well. A tiny bit heavy. Pretty special that. Great

technique. Sei Young Kim. Putting together a

fine round. Well, that's outside the commentary

box. Fairly wide of the green. Henderson on the left, Munoz Anna

Nordqvist, three good drives. Ken. A lot of debating what to do. Munoz is

going to lay up, 296 yards left, 200 leaves 96 with the breeze in her

face. Will not reach the rather deep left traps. Good swing. Good hit.

Good position. Back to our leader on 14. Birdie

attempt here, rolling, undulating greens, they take a bit of reading.

A little bit of me left on the bone in her. -- on the bone there.

Henderson's second to the 15th. Well down the shaft. The shot is towards

the right-hand bunker. Swinging around a bit, chasing towards the

gap, that's OK, good position. This has certainly got her

attention. I don't think it's outside the hole.

Well, it was. It was a very good putt indeed. Good par saving 34

Jutanugarn. -- three, for Jutanugarn. Ideal playing

conditions, is it a little cool? It is warming up, the sun is coming

out, the sunshine is pleasant, libraries. Couldn't have been a

better layer for Munoz, 104 yards, the green holding. -- layup. Too

much zip on that. Aske Nordqvist to put the divot back in, will you,

Ken? Henderson is the third member of this party. What sort of shot is

it? 80, 90, 70? 75. A good lie. You have to pitch it up to the flag

otherwise it will come trickling back. It will have a little bit of

zip on it. She is thinking birdie. Gripping well down the club. That

could spin. Yes, it does, and stops. Well done, good shot, that's an

excellent result. Well, I really feel these players have to make the

most of good conditions. There is a little bit of rain forecast later in

the day. Up to the 18th for Kim. Third shot, four under. Chip and a

putt here would do her proud. This was the first group out this

morning. At the ungodly hour of 6:30am. Tennis players don't do

that, you know. Cricket players start at 10:30am, 11am, football is

even. But not golfers. Here is our Championship leader on 15 command

despite the length of the hole you can see she is going with a 3-wood.

Placement is everything. Great take away there. Classically

on plain, very strong in the lower body, look at the strength in the

legs. Good wind-up. With most of these modern players, no holding

back. I'm delighted to see the course in

such a wonderful condition. When the camera goes in tight on the green,

you can see the quality of the grass. Its magnificent. From below

the cup this will be one of the slower putts she's had today. She's

holed a couple of nice ones on the back nine to save pars. This is for

a birdie. Good effort.

The final green for Sei Young Kim, final shot, we hope. No, up out of

it. That's annoying, but it's a 69. A couple of dropped shots in there,

but very fine play. The world number five well up on top of the

leaderboard. Might have learned a little bit from

her playing partner. Nordqvist. There is a nice crowd out here,

lovely day for watching golf. Woburn has always been a good place for

spectators and I'm sure they will role in in their thousands over the

weekend. Brooke having a glimpse of this one. She will have learned a

little bit from her playing partners. It's not particularly

fast, it has a little bit of left to right movement. Imagine, 18 years of

age, ranked number two in the world behind Lydia Ko. Pretty impressive

for a short pro career. Lydia Ko is only 19, not even 20. Young

superstars. It is great to see. Just got to keep the pace on this one,

otherwise it will duck to the right. Beatriz Recari. Well played. Really

nice round by the 20-year-old Spaniard.

Laura Davies, another longish putt. Here she is, 2-over par, at the

17th. The last of the short holes. Left she comes, left she comes, and

hello! APPLAUSE

Well done, Laura, back to 1-over. With Jutanugarn out in front, a

couple of chances of birdies coming in. But there you can see Beatriz

Recari, Sei Young Kim, first in posting scores of 69.

Nordqvist on the 16th. One under par. Don't go over there too far.

She's safe. Anxious moments. 5-under par. A beauty. Side by side.

Henderson safely on the fairway. One of the things I noticed when I walk

the course is there are a lot of holes in the front nine where from

the tee you consider green, but these final holes, you see what is

in front of you, it is scary sometimes. The fairway is generous,

though, there's no crimping on the fairway. You will notice the women

gripped down the shaft abets, whether they feel it gives them a

little bit stronger grip, better leveraged. This is Stacey, Stacy

Lewis. She's had a wonderful career. Still going strong.

AJ, 282 out of reach, must be out of reach. She doesn't hold back,

though, my God, is a big gap the left, is it OK? Through the gap and

nearly on the green, the nearest we've seen today.

Yes, lovely to see people out in shirt sleeves, the opening

Championship is a great Championship, on the last day,

everyone with anoraks and dark clothing, lovely to see

short-sleeved order and lovely to see this, a shot like that blasted

away, good balance. Perfect position for a chip and a putt and a birdie.

Anna Nordqvist, the rough is very light. She's got to get over the

little tree in front, keep it under the bow of the larger oak tree,

which shouldn't be difficult, it's a natural trajectory that any club she

fancies. Would favour a bit right of the flag. Oh, my. That wasn't a very

good, well directed shot, it kicked back into the bunker, may be OK,

maybe we'll either a simple shot. The lie looked good, the shot didn't

look all that difficult, she could get the four. You think she will

head the drop, but she is accurate, perfect shot, 137 yards. The breeze

is slightly against her. Get up. It has done very well indeed, wasn't

the crispest of strikes, but it has got the job done, got a good look at

birdie. Now, Henderson. A nice lie, one or two balls picking up the mud.

Setting up the drawer shot. Lewis's approach into 15. Oh,

excellent shot. Excellent shot indeed by Stacy Lewis. A little

frustrated these days because it is over two years since she has won a

golf tournament, believe it or not. Everything beautifully presented by

Ricoh, since they came into golf, anything oozes class. On a setting

such as this, it all marries in so perfectly. It really is a delight to

come to a tournament like this and see something different. First

round, good so far, early of course, although play started at 6:30am, it

is getting towards 11:30am, so they've been out there for five

hours. The weather forecast is maybe a little bit Shari this afternoon.

There is a better breeze, a bit of wind -- showery. Ideal conditions. A

good score of players in red numbers already. I think a lot of these

players who are coming over to play in a British Open for the first time

were pleasantly surprised to find a course that does much more, it that

I'd better. Van links courses? Yes, van links courses. -- than. I think

the links courses can be too severe. There is our leader, and what a nice

little pitch she played there. Two cracking shots on a good pitch. She

is 6-under par at the moment, leading by one. Quite a fanciable

putt this one uphill, gradually from left to right. Not particularly

quick, this will be a good birdie. Oh, unlucky, what a beautiful

strike. For one so young, she plays

remarkably well, started young, liked the game, enjoyed practising,

a joy to see, Kent. It is lovely to see youth out watching, plenty of

youngsters. It is a fabulous game, there's no doubt about it. This to

join the leader. That turned a lot. It did, it looked pretty good when

it was a few feet short and then really turned very quickly.

And this for birdie. The putting has been the bedrock of Anna Nordqvist's

game for a number of years now. I'm sure she'll be looking forward to

the Olympics. She can't wait, she so excited for it. A lot of the players

are just receiving their kit, makes it a reality. Right age, or just

outside if you are going to dribble it. Good read, Ken. Our leader

pounds one end, another birdie, 7-under. Look at that for a card,

not one drop shot, seven birdies, two shots clear of the field, four

holes to play... Three holes to play, in fact.

Well, after that the light delightful third shot from Lewis,

Bishop be a formality but -- surely this should be a formality. She has

got the first time. Never looked comfortable. No, didn't. If you're

going to hit them that firmly on fast greens, you need to keep it

within the confines of the hole. Here is Katrina Matthews, the pride

of Scotland and Britain, birdie hole, a long way away, but this

doesn't look too bad. What an effort. Well done. Remarkable lady.

She's at the Olympics. She's perked up in the last six

holes, just one drop shot and then bingo, came to live, came alive,

Laura finishing off here at the 18th.

Laura has never had great success on the courses here at Woburn.

APPLAUSE 74. Well, disappointing par-4 Lewis

there are three beautiful third shot. It can only be put down to

lack of concentration. But it is a tidy looking card, nonetheless. I do

like watching this swing, it's brisk, it's a good one goal, it

looks like somebody who's going to give the ball a good tonk. She has

good firm hand on the shaft, quick river, zips it through the ball,

head still. Henderson of Canada, nips one away, just do the right of

the flag. Nicely done. Sweet shot. That is her sister on the bike, she

plays in the United States -- the bag. After much debate with the

caddy, she has decided on the club, she's playing 155.

Heart of the green, but you see the ball easing down on that steep

slope. Always tricky to really commit to your decision when it is

taking you so long to arrive at that decision. But Nordqvist little

brisket to the tee. She might be able to carry it, she's pushed it,

mind. A loose one, to loose ones in a row.

Back to our leader, Jutanugarn, trying to draw it to that fairway,

as she overcooked it eight had? -- a tad. Driving after the 16th, three

holes to negotiate, and Azahara Munoz, three tournaments on the

bounce, the first you have that in a road, as their initial success.

Great stuff from the tie and she is our two shot lead in the early

stages of the women's British Open at Woburn. Katrina Matthews knows

what it takes to win, she did in 2009 and also featuring in the early

part of our transmission. Some of the big names in women's golf are

mustering at the head, with many more to come. Stacy Lewis in debate

with her caddy. Just in the first cut, lose a bit of

control here. 2013 champion, coming into good form, three top tens,

seventh in the US Open, so hitting his stride. Can she control this?

This will run a bit when it lands. The price is paid for missing the

fairway off the tee. Yes, it is a slightly easier shot coming in from

the right-hand side on the 16th because you can come of the axis of

the green, but just missing the fairway cost her DV as we going to

Katrina Matthew -- cost her dearly. Asking the wind to hit it. That has

done well, that is quite a hefty finishing hole, 388 yards, par-4

year. On the top of the tee, there is a

slope and this is going downhill from where she is standing, so quite

a testing putt. It goes over the hill and turns to her left. Once it

gets over the hill, it is quite quick.

It is one of these putts you will be happy to take to from here. She is

taking a long time, went with the six eventually. Came up here, and

there is the slope Ken was talking about. Down it comes. No, something

still left for a par. Back to 16. Just coming out of the

semi-rough but she zips through the ball quickly, so she might get some

action on it. Oh, and that is hit down nicely.

Anna Nordqvist was in the sand. It was a loose tee shot, said this now

to save for par. Nearly, but a shot goes at a gentle

par-3, it was a wild two shot -- tee shot. A couple of bogeys it will be

in a row, after dropping a shot on the 16th as well. Unsettled by

something. Possibly two bogeys in a row.

And now over par for her round, losing a lot of ground. Henderson

has had a good luck while the others were putting, taken too much time,

they were putting the clock on the last hole. It is a little slippery

down there. It is interesting, the clock Court

of, that tee was slow, but also an eye on this pitch for Stacy Lewis.

You can hear the sound of it coming out of there.

Now Azahara Munoz trying to keep her card clear of bogeys. She got there

in the end. A player who thrives very much on confidence, tends to

get good streaks going. Good to see Yani Tseng featuring,

she's had a rough time in the last three years with form. But two shot

clear at the moment for the leader, it is a family business with her

sister, Maria, but their parents travelled with them and handle their

affairs, in charge, so the family trots around the globe with much

success on the golf course. Oh, great camera angle, showed you

how much swing there was on that putt, good pace from May, as she

likes to be called. Heading back to Thailand next week for a week off,

really looking forward to it. There is no spin initially, there you go,

and there it rolls, the idea is to get it rolling forward with topspin

as soon as possible. It lost its true line. Anyway...

Black magic. Stacy Lewis, a former world number one, she's coming back

into a bit of form. She's heading to the Olympics as well. There's only

one, of all the men who pulled out of the Olympics, only the South

African he was pulled out over fears of the virus, so the women seem more

robust than the men. Well, that is a great par. One bad

shot can always be repaired by one good putt. Part of the winning USA

team last week. Katrina Matthew, let's see if she can close with a

birdie. It's been a very good back nine.

It was cracked down there, it was trying for her, but a timid putt for

the 2009 champion, but fall birdies on her back nine. Back on the tee.

That is bound to be blocked out, there's a stand of oak trees down

there halfway down the right side. And I think she's going to be

tangling with them. So, Katrina Matthew to finish out. Lovely back

nine from Katrina Matthew. Out in 38, back in 32, four birdies, no

drop shot, after a round of 70, and nicely placed. A good look at the

17th. A fairly straightforward par 155 for the leader. All the way up

the back. Just pokes that in there. APPLAUSE

Get it all the way back at least, you can see the back level on the

pin there. Well, the three tee-shots straddling

the fairway, and Henderson has definitely got the best angle into

this flag. Just avoided the bunker, 158 yards. The flag is on the right

of the green, otherwise these horsemen at -- horse chestnut trees

would be in the way. Look how far down in the grip she goes. We can

see a few drops of rain, and just thereby Henderson. A beautiful shot,

again just loses a bit of control but birdie opportunity. There is

Brittany's sister on the back, Brooke, Brittany and brolly.

Nordqvist is nearer, she has got 139, she has made a little valley.

She can pitch at five or six yards short.

Great shot by Nordqvist. I walked up this hole with her and practice, and

she was dialled in then as she is today. This is a testing one. Can't

go over the oak, has to go and delivered, it will be a tricky one.

It has made live tricky for himself, you're better missing on the side of

the fairway -- like tricky for herself.

Looking down on the 17th tee, and Stacy Lewis... This rain has come

from nowhere. Looks to be lying, and good distance, what about this for a

shot from Stacy Lewis. That'll do nicely.

Super slow Mo rain, nothing quite like it. Look at the swing of Stacy

Lewis, high hands at the top. Suffered from back problems as a

youngster, perfect impact position. So Having to draw this on the 13th.

Oh, nasty bouncer there, could have carried another yard she wouldn't

have hit it on that slight slope. She has to watch it, because it gets

swept away, but that is OK. Having driven in to the right rough, it is

not too bad, it is lying OK. She just has to get it high in the air.

Could be dandy. Go on, down the slope. Merely very good. -- nearly.

Like Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey, graduate of the same college. Being

on the LPGA Tour for a few years. She is from Malaga, southern Spain

and she will go to the Olympics with Carlota Ciganda, the two Spanish

representatives. A little down the slope for Brooke Henderson. A little

from the right. Bit of moisture on the green. Is it going to run out?

It is trying. Go on, baby. Jutanugarn from the back of 17. Big

slope here now, moving the ball left to right. Good for pace.

Yani Tseng. Her caddy keeping player and ball dry. Until the very last

moment. There we go. Yani Tseng gets to three under par. With all the

problems she's had with her form, five Majors in three years she won

by the age of 22, 23. She's had real problems since.

Now, this would be one of the great escapes if Munoz can get away with a

four at 18. No. That's her first dropped shot of the day. It is a

very fine 68, full of good play. She has been coming into a bit of form,

and the confidence should be seeping back through her.

Jutanugarn, just to tap in for her par on the 17th. Confident strike.

She heads for the file hole still two shots clear.

-- final hole. Two shots clear of Surrey and who, but also perhaps two

shots clear of this young woman, this is for a lovely two on the

17th. Beautiful tee shot and Stacy Lewis rips the reward, moves to five

under par. Now, so you knew, 2011 US Open

champion. So a player with some degree of pedigree. It's not going

to make the crest of the hill. A little shower has slowed things up

fractionally. It's still Ariya Jutanugarn, the

youngest of the Jutanugarns sisters. Leading the way by two shots. Stacy

Lewis, the gritty Texan has had a bit of a drought in terms of

victories over the last couple of years. This is event numbers 56

without a win for a person in Stacy Lewis who love to win. Former world

number one, of course. There is Beth Allen leading the standings now on

the Ladies European Tour. The American leading the way and a good

season. Advocates Madsen, one of several very good games in the hunt

as well. Stacy Lewis on the 18th tee. -- Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

Ideally down the left half of the fairway. Further left than that. A

groan from Lewis. The tree is in the way. Tree's on the way indeed.

It's all about visualisation. See the shot you want to hit.

Now, back to this 407 yard par-4 13th. This is for a four, a bit of

the left. Hurry. Perfect, dead centre for So Yeon Ryu. That keeps

her at 5-under. Very tidy looking card. Just the one blemish on the

fourth. A look at the tee shots on the 18th of the group containing the

leader, Jutanugarn, Stacy Lewis command off to the left, might just

be a little blocked out by the trees. Jutanugarn in fine fettle. On

the right-hand side today, the pin. You want to be on the left-hand

side, it feeds down over the initial reached towards the hole. What do

you think? Just a few places left of the flag and let it come down? Yes

and it can't be much more than an 8-iron for her. The prevailing wind

is a westerly, so they are just checking out that it's coming into

them just a little bit on the left-hand side. So the terrain and

the breeze are possibly helpful for them here.

Just coming up a fraction short. And by her high standards, not good

enough. Stacy Lewis feared the worst on the

tee, she said she'd be blocked out by trees. But she might be able to

sneak it down to the opening of the green.

Sit, sit. Sitcom set. Doing a lot of talking, the ball is not listening.

That is a good result from there. -- sit, sit.

Sharon Woods on 17, Long Cross green putt. Come on, nearly as good as her

uncle, tipping in the last roll. I thought she was going to do a little

bit of her uncle Tiger on the 16th at Augusta back in 2005. She is the

niece of Tiger Woods. Tiger's half brother is her father. She's

beginning to make her own name on the Tour. She's a very talented

player. The world number six has got this putt for an opening round of

64. Quite a slow one up the hill. Aiming well left to allow for that

break. Fine effort, though. Well, it's been a very stress-free

round of golf for her, hasn't it? For Jutanugarn and Stacy Lewis, both

keeping bogeys off their card. Stacy Lewis sizing up her birdie putt now.

A little bit ragged off the tee, but managed to chase it out of the

rough, flirting with the trees down the left-hand side. This will go

down the slope. It is a quick putt. Again, though, the shower that has

come through in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes, might have

taken a little bit of the fire out of the greens. You can't afford to

be too bowled with this one, though. -- bold. That is something of a

miscalculation. Do you know, that was a very similar strike off the

blade to the very short one that she missed two or three holes ago. It

just seemed to decelerate slightly, flirted the Blade open and she sent

it right off the line that she intended to. If you get the wrong

side of one of these slopes it just looks even worse. That is not the

distance you want to leave yourself on the last. This could make or

break her mood for the afternoon. We talked about her coming back to

some form. She was the world number one back in 2013 and 2014. She's

just started to find a few results of late, a few top tens. This is to

close with a par to keep bogey off her card and for a round of 67.

Nicely done by Stacy Lewis. The 2013 win at St Andrews is off to a bright

start at the Marquess Course at Woburn.

And a small one for Jutanugarn to finish off. That's an opening round

of 65 for very much the form horse. And she sits atop the leaderboard at

this moment. So it is the 20-year-old from

Thailand, Jutanugarn, who leads, Ariya Jutanugarn and her sister

going well with 65, never finished better than tied 45th in two British

Women's Open events, so a flying start, two clear of the 2013

champion Stacy Lewis. So Yeon Ryu also out on the course at 5-under

par. So, Let's hear from the leaders with Hazel.

Ariya, super start at the Ricoh British Women's Open champion. Tell

me how much you like this course at Woburn. I think it suits my game, I

like the course so much. Wonderful season for you, not least

three wins in a row. Can you tell me why you have had so much success and

what has been the major spark in your career this season?

I think this year I have so much fun when I play golf and I really want

to have fun with every single round. Rain now I'm really happy, and I

just focused on what is under my control.

You came so close in the first major of the year and I wonder how much

momentum the ANA Inspiration has given you. I'm feeling really

confident after the ANA. You've made a really good start, well done.

Stacy Lewis, the winner of this Championship three years ago, how do

you assess your performance after this round?

It was good, I played a really solid round, I only had one putt for par

and I made it and playing with Ariya was a good motivation, she got off

to such a good start and she was making birdies and firing at flags

and she got me focused on making birdies to keep up. It helps to play

with her today within striking distance for the next few days. I

was going to say, it is a contrast to the conditions you won with at St

Andrews, the rough, the weather, all of these things. Do you prefer this

contrast, or is it something you have to get to grips with at the

British Open Championship? It just doesn't feel like a British

Open at all. It is more like I would say Canadian open than British Open.

It is just different, I prefer the links because I love links style

golf so I look forward to this Championship every year because of

the style of golf, but that's not to say you can't win on this too.

This is quite a summer for you, week eight of nine in a row on the

course. Next week there is the small matter of a

wedding for you and then you go on honeymoon to Rio.

You don't do things by halves, do you? No, it seemed a little better

when we planned it at the time. But it kind of is what it is and I know

next week I will not play much golf anyway so I was like let's just do

the wedding and getting Dunne it over with and do the honeymoon and

go to Rio, that's what I want to do, just go and enjoy Rio, I don't want

to stress about it, I just wanted to go and have fun. It's the most

unusual wedding preparations I've heard of the we wish you the best

for this week and next week, of course. Thank you. Yes, a winner's

cheque would help pay for the fee is. No doubt one of the favourites

for the title is local girl Charley Hull of Kettering. Charley Hull is

one of the latest starters in amongst some very big names in the

women's game. Her fellow Englishwoman Melissa Reid headed out

with the seven time major winner Karrie Webb and Asuka Kashiwabara of

Japan. The newly crowned open champ, Brittany Lang, and Charley Hull is

out at 11:50am with world number one Lydia Ko. Hull finished tied second

to the kiwi in the season's first major in California in April.

Charley Hull, who is from Kettering, knows that a lot is expected of her

this week. In fact, she's been giving a few tips to Naga Munchetty

around these parts. Jelinek I've been here since I was

nine years old. I play the Duke and Duchess. They are much tighter. I

have not played this one in years. It is a good golf course. It is fun.

Right, we are at the 12th, we're going to get going. You've brought

the wind with you. I haven't picked the best of days!

I'm seeing water, should I be scared? Let me try. That was better

than mine. Underworld's worst caddy. -- I'm the world's worst caddy.

Definitely going into the water. Tell me about Woburn and what it

means to you. It's my home course and I've been here since I was nine

years old. It's nice to be home. Does it feel like home? Yes. For the

open to be here it must be an advantage? Yes, I like the home

crowd. Do you feel you will have an advantage? Not necessarily an

advantage, it can be a disadvantage in some ways because of the pressure

but I just have to forget it. Is it stupid to ask if you are going for

the win? Of course I want to win on my home course, that would be

wicked. I'm going to hit a baby wedge. I would go and help you look

for it but... I don't want to get wet. Don't worry! So, you are one up

after one, I didn't give you the most difficult challenge on that

hole but we have a couple more to go. How are you looking forward to

the Olympics? I'm really looking forward to it, it's going to be a

lot of fun, it's going to be a great experience, especially in the

Olympic Village, it will be fun meeting athletes and go and watch

some other sports as well. And the idea of a Gold Medal is something

completely different, isn't it? That would be really cool, wicked,

amazing. To stand on the podium with a Gold Medal, can you imagine the

atmosphere? I think it would be brilliant. I don't want to think too

far ahead but the thought of it is exciting.

It is a fantastically exciting couple of weeks for women's golf,

Rio on the horizon, they play after the men in the second week of the

Olympics in Rio and Charley Hull will be accompanied by Katrina

Matthew in the women's event and the two of them could go very well, you

would imagine. There is a field of 60 in Rio and 41 players contending

for the Gold Medal in Rio are at Woburn this week so it is a stellar

field in preparation not just for that but of course for the great

title itself. And we saw the rain earlier with Charley Hull and Naga

Munchetty and the rain has been falling a little bit. It is pretty

gentle stuff and it's not cold so we are thankful for small mercies. We

were all in Troon where it was cold and wet for much of the time so it

is nothing really. This is the situation as we look down at the

midway point of the opening day of the Ricoh Women's British Open

Championship. It was Ariya Jutanugarn setting the pace and

Shanshan Feng has made inroads into the lead. She is 6-under through 12

holes. The woman who became the first Chinese player in history,

male or female, to win a major title, is very much in the hunt for

this one. Stacy Lewis, never to time major champion, some top names up

there. Also in contention, 5-under par. There is an yours, two-time

winner on the LPGA Tour. Ha Na Jang. And Sarah Jane Smith making inroads

too. Alena Sharp will accompany Brooke Henderson in the Canadian

team at Rio, the two of them representing and flying the Maple

Leaf in Brazil. Looking further down, Sei Young Kim going well.

Teresa Lu had a top ten finish at Turnberry last year. In-Kyung Kim is

in there at 3-under par. Maria Jutanugarn, our leader's older

sister by 18 months -- Moriya Jutanugarn. She's posted 69 today.

Karrie Webb, 3-under for the three-time winner of this great

event after 11 holes. Mirim Lee of Korea. Catriona Matthew. Minjee Lee

has pinched Karrie Webb's place for the Rio Olympics. Karrie Webb mental

Minjee Lee. She will take part for the Aussies in a few weeks' time.

Charley Hull featuring on the fourth page of the leaderboard in the big

group at 1-under par. Charley Hull was two under through three holes

and dropped one at the 8th, 1-under. So, off we go for the afternoon's

play. We see Emily Kristine Pedersen, last year's winner on the

LET. We have 38 players, indeed we have 43 players all under par right

now. So, let's get out onto the golf course, the beautiful Marquess

Course again and return you to the great company of Ken Brown, Andres

-- Andrew Cotter, Peter Alliss and Maureen Milind. COMMENTATOR: Isn't

that a grand view across the dip to the other side. Charley Hull not

quite in full flow, Maureen, but not doing too badly on the opening

round. No, and I'm sure she's glad to get underway because there is

lots of pressure for the home favourite. This is a beautiful golf

course. She has hit it down to the launch pad. The green is sitting way

below her. That plummets to Earth. The caddy's right, pretty good.

Looking into that green, it reminds me of the 3rd hole on the Dukes

course, the way the green sits below you and the beautiful backdrop. Yes,

well, everywhere you look here you get beautiful views, magnificent

trees, a mixture of fine trees, rhododendrons. It's a stunning bit

of ground. Welcome our first look at our world number one, Lydia Ko.

She's got an interesting swing, it's not for the purists, she has a

quirky bit on the back swing but the rhythm is good. She just gets the

job done. I hope she doesn't have too many lessons or try to change

too many things because Dominic and keep Donaghy keeps going the way she

is because she is doing quite nicely. Leave her alone. Making up

the trio is Linda Wessberg, the Swedish player. Currently eighth in

the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit. Lightly raced this year

because she became the man last year so a few other things on her mind.

-- she became a mum last year so a few other things on her mind.

Good shot. The wind has died down. We've had

some light rain, a bit of drizzle, something a little bit harder, a

little bit of sharpish wind blowing through the course, but nothing too

serious. As we seek Thompson at the 8th, 2-over par, long birdie putt,

won't be far away. There you are, I told you so. I thought it was going

to topple in. No, stays two over. The familiar figure of Karrie Webb.

What a good player she's been for 15 years or more, Maureen. She started

very young. And she's kept that rhythm going for umpteen Victor

Ruiz. Seven time major winner. The first time I saw her was here in

1995 when she arrived at the Duke's Course and properly won this title

three times. -- victories. That's the familiar Crouch of Michelle Wie.

As if she is auditioning for the female role of the hunchback of

Notre Dame. I'm sure there is an easier way to do it. But she reckons

that's the way. It don't matter what you do, as long as you get it in the

hole, boy. Very good scoring on this

opening-day. Play started around 6am this morning. It is a long day. The

last game goes off at 4:30pm. It's a long day for the officials, players

and caddies. Mostly the officials and all the ones who busy themselves

with scoring, marshalling and one thing and another. First to putt is

Wessberg. Little movement from the left. They are having to get a

wriggle on. The official out with the old watch.

Well, we've had a little bit of a shower in the last hour, so, Ken,

has that slowed up the cause markedly or not? -- the course.

Karrie Webb pitching over to the 12th green, over the water. This

hole can be played a number of ways depending on which tee is used and

that is a cracking shot. It needed a bit of stop. Still a very nice shot

from Karrie Webb. Well, if anybody should know these

greens, its Charley Hull, Ken. A nice crowd out watching. Absolutely

right, there is a bit of moisture, quite a heavy shower came down about

15 minutes ago. It has stopped. There is a big slap on the greens,

lots of movement from right to left. -- big slope on the green.

That was a beautiful effort. Very nice indeed by Charley Hull. Got off

to a hot start with a couple of birdies on the first three holes,

dropped one at the last. Tidy nine of 36. This is going to be. I was

with Lydia Ko when she heard that she was playing with Charley and she

said "I knew I would get Charley in the draw. She was delighted. These

two had a big tussle for the first major title of the year with Charley

being edged out. Lydia Ko should have got a bit of help from her

playing partner, a bit of movement from the left and a reasonable

amount of pace. Amassed six feet down the slope, into the little

valley. She has a gorgeous touch, she really has. -- the last six

feet. A bit feeble. All that build-up,

Ken, and they let you down. I know the feeling. It's a long race. She

has got a nice touch. Nice, nice touch.

Up ahead to the 13th, Shanshan Feng. I think this woman's one of the most

remarkable players I've ever seen in my life in the world of golf. She

doesn't look very exciting at all. She just quietly plots, keeps the

same rhythm, she's almost relentless in finding the greens, holing the

putts, not making any mistakes. Quite remarkable.

Back to nine for Wessberg. What you would call a little tester. In her

last two tournaments she has been fourth and second. Choosing a good

time to run into form. A little bit of marking going on.

You see Lydia standing astride the putt. Using the aim point method of

having a look at the greens. Using the feet to determine the amount of

slope, and all sorts of wizardry goes on after that. Might be a

little bit of movement in this one. Well done. Outward nine of 37,

1-over par. Charley Hull just a little tap in.

And in she goes, and on they go. This is a look at the 9th from the

air. The following three ball, most players playing a 3-wood or 5-wood

for the longer hitters to the launch pad. Michelle Wie has gone something

longer and has had a mis-judgement because she has gone down into the

valley. You don't want to go down there, you can get some scrappy lies

down there. That tree to the left. They have the tee up so they can

drive to the end of the fairway. 450 yards from the back tee. They are

playing this very short and second shot, which looks inviting across

the valley. This is one of the things I love

about this game. You have Lexi Thompson, almost six feet tall. And

Marie Miyazato, much shorter. But they

both play extraordinarily successfully.

Pushed it. That's not good. Saved by the bunker. Interesting to me to see

how the women's game has changed. A fewer years ago, more of them were

swingers, did it with balance and timing. But over the last ten years

or so a few players waggle it. They are more aggressive with the

clubhead. She has found a good spot. They trimmed all this down. This

used to be rough ground down here. It has all been cleaned up, tidied

up. She could almost throw it on. It doesn't look like quite such a

good decision now. But you weigh up the percentages, and she thought the

possibility of getting a good lie was high. She's found a way of

getting down in two possibly. Charley Hull, watch this for

somebody who actually attacks the ball. Boom. You didn't see many

women play that way years ago. She really gets her hands on the

clubhead, gives it a good old smack. She's fun to watch.

Just a placement tee shot required at the 10th, 344 yards, straight

ahead par-4. 240 might be the widest part of the fairway. Two bunkers up

the right. Certainly a birdie opportunity. This is a real... Some

of these girls are only tiny little tots and they have to swing slowly.

And the slower you swing the more careful you have to be coming you

have to keep the rhythm going. Wide and slow and sweeping the ball away

instead of hitting the ball. Sweeping right through. I always

enjoyed watching... I said to many men, you learn far more watching

good women play golf than you would watching the likes of Tiger Woods,

Spieth and McIlroy, because you'll never play like that. You can get

the art of timing from these women. Feng on 13. Birdie at six of seven

of the last holes. She started off in a rather pedestrian manner with a

handful of pars, after she was very nearly late on to the first tee.

Then she really put the afterburners on. Here is an awkward one. Right

foot up, left foot down. Hand and arm s swing it through. Good result.

Little tiny one for Feng. Nicely done. She remains one behind.

Jutanugarn shooting a very good 65 this morning in ideal conditions.

Michelle Wie. Big, wide stance for long putts. Sniffing at the ball.

Look where she is aiming, up to the bank on the right. A huge swing.

Very low, steady, good pace. STUDIO: That's the scene as we look

over the Bedfordshire countryside. Very close to Milton Keynes, about

50 miles north of London. Jutanugarn safely in the clubhouse, waiting to

see if Shanshan Feng of China can match the 7-under par, going very

well. The woman who will be 27 the day of The Open ceremony next week

in Rio. Very excited, as many of these women are, about going to

represent their country in the Olympic Games. Teresa Lu in that

group at 3-under. Karrie Webb also going very well. Can't believe it's

21 years since she took this place by storm on the Duke's course. This

fearless young woman coming through from Australia. This is the place

that launched her career all those years ago. It seems like yesterday.

Perfect position for Wessberg off the 10th tee. Slap bang in the

middle. Ken, flag pretty central today. Essential at the back, yes.

Played a long way back. -- Central at the back. Hardly a breath of wind

at the moment. Remember watching Vesper gapped the

Championship in Saint Andrews. She finished seventh there. -- watching

Vesper -- Wessberg at. She really is as calm as she looks,

Peter. It's interesting. A fascinating story. Her family taking

the opportunity to have the teaching scholarship in New Zealand. Taking

citizenship, learning to play golf, entering the New Zealand. It's just

a great story. Now Charley Hull. Get inside that one. 114. Good cuff,

coming in high. The line looks not bad. Oh, Kenny. The adrenaline was

flowing there, Kenneth, I think. Yes, over aggressive, I think. Calm

it down a bit. Looking at the contact here. You see the divot fly

after the ball was taken. Quite a lot of turf taken. Green keepers

must cry themselves to sleep at night after preparing it for years

and years, to be ripped to pieces. But they do a great job. Miyazato

with a par putt at the 9th. She remains 1-over.

Always looks busy, like she has somewhere to go, a bus to catch or

something. Karrie Webb. Hardly any divot at all. It clipped

off the top. Might stop a bit too quick. Interesting.

Michelle Wie, Jack Nicklaus style of putting, works. I walked a couple of

holes with her in practice and she was doing the table top ironing

board style. Looking at her today, she's mostly doing this, she seems

to change between the two depending on her mood. If it works, putting is

a game within a game. But we are. -- but there we are. From the back of

the green. A little bit too enthusiastic with the short pitch

in. Just settled down in the grass. It's awkward with the green running

away. It's hard to get the right contact on the ball. Decide what you

want to play and commit to it. You could sort of scuff it out and let

it run. Awkward. The grass is just an inch long but it has settled

down. You don't want to be dropping a shot after a good tee shot like

that, Ken. A shortish iron in. She's opening the face. It's a bold shot,

I fancy. It's looking quite cavalier to me at the moment. Cavalier! Lots

of swishing. This is awkward. Anything within four feet is a

beauty. Quick stab. She's got away with it. APPLAUSE

Very unlucky there. The ball nestling down. A little

break of the wrist and you can see the ball almost going straight up.

Still only level with the club face. Extraordinary that, this very slow

motion. You wonder how the club doesn't hit the ball two or three

times. Just a little film of moisture on

the greens at the moment. It slows it down a fraction meaning the ball

doesn't break as much, but it's actually a little bit easier to get

the ball to roll more smoothly. Should have a little bit of movement

from the right. She has left herself one of those

you really don't like all that much. Karrie Webb after a very nice

approach shot in here at 13. Down the slope. A couple of little

switchbacks. That was a good putt. Left it below the hole.

Isn't that lovely? Magnificent selection of trees, all sorts.

Wildlife, a few brown squirrels about. All sorts of stuff. Lydia Ko.

Birdie putts, this to get back to level par.

Dribbled away. So a chance missed really. I thought she might pot that

one. In search of her third major title.

As won one already this year. As we go quickly to Karrie Webb.

Well holed. Karrie Webb unfortunately has just missed out on

the Olympic trip. Very sad news to a lot of us. It was very much her

dream to be there. But Minjee Lee just edged out Karrie Webb and

Rebecca Artis at the death. This is the tester that Wessberg has left

herself. Putts with the shaft of the putter almost vertical. Dead centre.

Over the years her putter has had some wonderful shapes and sizes. All

sorts of blade putters, lumpy ones, round ones, flat ones. Anything to

try to get the ball in the hole. Long putter, short putter. I

remember a fellow called Eduardo Blasi from Argentina who had a

putter around 14 inches long, a wide stance, putting one-handed. Didn't

last long, ended up quietly in a home somewhere. I don't think any of

these young nerves will be in a home for quite some time. It's a funny

old game. It can strike you down, this dam game of golf. It's so

pedestrian, you get so much time to think. You ponder and wonder, can I

get better? Inevitably you get worse. Charley Hull finishing off

nicely. Good chip and putt from the back of the green. 1-under.

Peter, you must have had some fun when you were building this golf

course. Did you discover anything of interest when you were moving trees

must not a few old Army dug outs. I think I'm correct in saying they

used to store ammunition here. It was absolute dense forest,

rhododendrons, ferns and trees. I still see Clive Clarke hacking his

way through. It was amazing to be asked by the family to come and do

the third course here. Very proud of it. It's lovely. Mind you, you would

have to be a complete fool to make a mess of a course in land like this.

You can just see a couple of amateur names on that scoreboard as the

scores roll through. Seven amateurs playing this week for the Smith

salver. The third of the par threes. Easy to come up short on this one.

It has boxed a few players today. -- it has foxed. It's a big green that

tilts from back to front. You can throw the ball in there like playing

darts, with bunkers on either side. You have to be up. If you go to the

back of the green, when they are running fast, it's not easy to two

putt. We don't know what they all played

off the tee there, but Michelle Wie has a bit of a low rookie one to try

and execute. She hits into the canopy of the tree but gets away

with it. -- low hooking one. Miyazato's ball already on the

green. She was a wunderkinder at 14 or 15 years of age, pushed on by her

parents. A little bit too early really, but settling down into the

world of golf for the last seven or eight years. The caddies in women's

golf, do you think they take more of an interest... Not interest, that's

the wrong word. But do you think they get involved more than the

caddies on the men's Tour? I think they may be do, Peter. Seem to be

more of them lining up the players and being part of it. They seem to

be more actively engaged. Trying to keep the clubface open, keep the

ball on line and she has done it very well indeed. Cracking shot.

APPLAUSE Lexi Thompson is fun to watch. She

really manoeuvres the ball and does stuff you don't see many of them

doing. Lydia Ko, just watch this backswing.

See the little too early bit, pushing it down, and it might go off

the fairway. -- the little too twirly bit. It's mindful of Inbee

Park's swing. She's injured this week. Not textbook stuff from Lydia

Ko, but neither was Lee Trevino and they are both geniuses in their way

in their own life span and area in the world of golf. Don't change it.

Stick with what you do best. Learn how to use it. Some very good

scoring today. Ideal weather. We've had a little drop of rain but it has

been a slight stirring in the trees. Only a light breeze that hasn't

developed into any sort of wind. Charley Hull at the 11th, the par-5.

That is a fizzer, right down the middle. Good job there is some

wetness in the ground otherwise it was in the bunker. Otherwise good.

Back a hole to the 10th. The flag is 25 yards on today.

The greens here on the Marquess course are quite segmented. To get

really close to the flight you have to have pinpoint accuracy with your

irons. Very easy to get on the wrong side of the slope and be swept away

into 3-putt distance. -- to get really close to the flag.

Michelle Wie's putt is on the way. Oh no.

This is awkward. But I think she can get it up and forward OK. A bit

close to the bank. Stamp it out and she has played it well. It's a

runner. Awkward shot. Nice to see a few amateurs playing, Maureen. It

has always been a great tradition in this Championship, but they have

earned their way into it. They are not here just because we like them.

I think there are seven in the field. The Smith salver will be very

keenly contested. Lydia Ko has run behind the trees. She can create a

shot if she has a good lie. She could squirt one round. Looks like

she will play out to the left and then pitch up. She just has to keep

it under the branches. The lie is pretty good considering the poor

lies around. She's 295, so if she moves out 95, she has 200 to the

flight. That's what you want to do. She could shunt it out, and could

get further if she could be ambitious. Looks like she could be

ambitious. Oh no she's not. They punched to the left side. Not too

much! The thing is, the great players seemed to make smallish

errors, misses the fairway, but it's a par-5. It's not always the great

shots that win things. It's those who make the fewest mistakes.

Everybody talks about flamboyant two irons, fizzing to the hole. But it's

the silly mistakes. When you add it up on Sunday night you might have

missed out by two or three. Charley Hull to thump it close. 264. That's

a shame, just clipped a branch. It was motoring, but not a bad layup.

Excellent layup as it happens. We are looking at the course from on

high and it looks like a treat. You are down there walking through the

trees. Wonderful to have character on either side of the fairways. It's

absolutely exquisite. You couldn't find a nicer inland course.

Everything you need. I was about Blairgowrie Rosemont last week. It

was another course like this, oozing class and charm. -- I was up at.

Another good tee shot from Wessberg. Deciding not to go for it. Not the

most accurate of layups. Stayed on the fairway but only just, Ken.

Beautifully presented, the wavy sides of the fairways. At the end

you find a green like this, beautifully prepared. Miyazato for

birdie, long dish and slowish putt. It's got the speed. Oh! Up a drain

pipe, could have gone a few feet past, but it disappeared. The little

totty goes on smiling. Can Karrie Webb rescue a par from

that lie in the bunker? It's downhill. It's got a turn but it's

too high. Slightly mis-hit tee shot, slightly

under club, one or t'other has cost the shot there. Lydia Ko, still a

few yards to go. Not the widest of targets. Going around the oak tree.

These rescues are very handy. Looked good, Ken, looked online. She

doesn't want it again, I can tell you that, Peter. It's a dandy! What

a shot. Wonderful. Go back 100 years and that thing is called a baffy.

The forward, 5-wood, a baffler. Then the rescue clubs that do the job.

Lexi, birdiey, well done, had putting issues over the years and

has done work with Dave Stockton. Meanwhile, at the 11th. See how you

cut fair away, you go into the rough and you come out to give it, it is

so easy to make a straight line, which makes it very boring, make a

little manoeuvre with the tractor and trailers and the cutters and you

can make a dull bit of ground look attractive. Plant a bit of gorse, a

few bumps. You old romantic Peter. It is, I

think, as I said at the beginning Henry Longhurst said aren't we lucky

golf takes us to so many beautiful places? You can have fine stadiums

and arenas and the rest of it, but there is only a limited view here,

everywhere you look there is is a bit of magic, a bit of wildlife,

colour, noise, sounds, birdie, it is glorious.

-- birds. That style. 844 yards left. Bit of a little ridge.

Is that, did that sound OK? Yes, perfect distance.

The flag cut a little cape that comes into the green, a little short

and it will dig in the bank and long and it will skid on, a good break

here for Charlie, having clipped the pine trees it could have gone

anywhere. 80 yards. And a good lay out yard damage. You can get the

grip on the second bounce. Nips it up, she is a great divot

taker. Stop. Oh, it didn't, didn't just, ran on

an extra eight feet. What is that ghen look at the size of the divot.

She crunches down on the back of the club. It looks as if she must

generate spin. You know people talk about controlling the spin, you

can't always, the ball doesn't always do what you hope it is going

to do. Those that pretend, oh great control, the spin. No, you hit it

the best you could and you hope for the best.

Sometimes it spins too much and sometimes it stops beautifully. And

sometimes it doesn't stop at all. Back on the tee, Thompson. Now this

is certainly within her compass to get up here in two.

She didn't look after it. She didn't need to. Big leap forward there,

Maureen that, got a good chase on. Just hurrying the camera crew out of

the way. Carr I Webb at the is ath. -- Carrie Webb at the is ath. --

15th. Big headed driver. Sweeps it off the top of the tee peg. Away it

goes. See that one-stops done dead, the

other went on 40 yards. Luck of the draw.

Karrie Webb at the is ath. -- 15th. Big headed driver. Sweeps it off the

top of the tee peg. Away it goes. See that one-stops done dead, the

other went on 40 yards. Luck of the draw.

Good crowds. Loads of buses and Sharia banks whatever you called

them. We have had the ladies group up from Surrey, bus loads of them

coming up to enjoy this great event. Great view there of the high hands

and the vertical putter shaft. The idea of that is to headache the

putter shaft an extension of your arm, just not quite reading the

break in there, fors we burring, but that will be a safe par O --

Wessberg. One birdie. 12th hole in front of them is clear,

there is known on it, so they will have to get a gallop on. They are

backing up. I can see them waiting to play up. Yes, this group are on

the slow side, they will have to kick on or they might get a nasty

fright at the end of the round. That is the plague of golf these days.

You watch over the next three days it is easy to see why they take so

long. Well, the Championship organisersers

have stated they will be hot on the timings here, and when a group loses

the their starting time difference, which is 11 minute, they lose that,

they will be put on the clock, they will be told, and when they get a

bad time, a second bad time that is it. It is a shot penalty. They have

been saying that for 50 years Maureen. Yes, but... They only been

please the poor young assistant from Rochdale. Not strictly true Peter.

It is totally true. Dear old pernard Langer he should have been penalised

for 25 years, eight shots a round. But no, he puts bums on seats.

-- Bernard. These these yardage charts and

books, they look, they throw bits of stuff in the air strike and they

consult. Do you think it is too much of a a science rather then an art.

Some of the greatest players in the world young by eye and feel and

touch. Touch. Another birdie opportunity for Ko. Ko: A good angle

Peter, up the slope. No.

Not got the range just yet. Well, after the errant tee shot it

would have been a bit of a steal to mark a birdie down, but I suppose

this is what world number ones tend to do more often than anybody else.

Now Karrie, Charlie I should say. Yes. Well done.

So Lexi Thompson has the been waiting behind that group for the

green to clear. That is a huge drive, Maureen isn't it. We saw it

leap down the fairway. Thompson has got the three wood out.

It don't even look like a three wood actually.

Straight at the sign behind the green, just to the right of the

flag. Only what, 15 yards gap? That sort of thing.

So one good clean very straight hit is needed here.

Looked good. Left, was good when it left here, and it is good when it

has arrived. That is a cracking shot.

Oh wunderbar. Superb. Cracking shot from the former US

Open champion, Lexi Thompson, she is making her way not quite on the

front-page of this leaderboard as yet. It is Shanshan Feng that has

been making the best progress, 6-under through 14 and the other

player making progress on the first page, 4-under through seven, Mirim o

Lee of South Korea, one of 30 South Korean players in the top 50.

Extraordinary success over the last 15 years or so since the the amazing

Siri Pak came on the scene, so many have tried to follow and have

succeeded in their following her into professional ranks. There is

mow Martin. Good to see her featuring, she won at royal berk

dale with that stunning eagle at the 72nd hole to nick it.

And there is Melissa Reid. 1-under through 14. Eventual ghul that

group. -- Charley Hull in that group. Leona Maguire one of the

amateur, she is one of the victorious Curtis Cup players from

Great Britain and Ireland. They won the cup back for only the eighth

time since the 1930s, great stuff against the Americans last month. So

that is how it looks on day one. At the moment, 55 women-under par. It

is a leavely setting here, Woburn Abbey.

-- lovely setting here. Fabulous setting.

And so many lovely sights and sounds round this lovely part of the

country. Just north of London. And Peter, I know this is place you know

very well. Our dear old colleague Alex was part and parcel of this

wonderful landscape. It is a lovely setting here, Woburn Abbey.

Fabulous setting. And so many lovely sights and sounds

round, this lovely part of the country. Just north of London. And

Peter, I know this is a place that you know very well. Charley

Hull unleashing one at this 12th hole, trying to find the island

fairway. You are aiming to get your tee shot

to finish between 20-240 yards. Michelle Wie 4-over par, won the US

Open a couple of years ago, since then, all sorts of problems injury

again, has played its part. A struggle today, he seems to have

lost her way again. It is entirely in Bedfordshire. A

bit of exciting chat for you there. I think the border is probably on

the A a 5, just to the east of here. Sometimes I bore mice, actually.

-- myself actually. Well, here we are back on 11 and those two mighty

blows from Lexi Thompson are shortly going to give her a very makeable

eagle putt. You are right, Michelle Wie has had

really, you know a disappointing career for one with so much promise

and talent. But, A lot is down to injury, she had knee problems then

she came through and had that renaissance and delivered the major

Championship but everything thought she was going to, in 2014, she had

neck problems since then, it has been a bit of a struggle. This one

low. Again, she is sort of systematic of

a lot of very young talents, come on the scene very young and perhaps

don't stay the course, some of them have great careers but are retired

by the age of 30. Karrie Webb is different. 41 now. She has been

competing at the highest level for a long, long time.

Talking early about seven and Cho who retired after winning major

after major. Three tee shots in decent position on this 12th hole,

sometimes the tee is moved up and you can have a pop at the green.

Even getting it on to this little almost an island fairway.

Peninsula sticks out. A very tricky pin. Seven on seven from the right,

but awkward spot tieded to a ridge that runs through the green. 73

yards left for Linda. A bang behind it she could use, a breeze helping.

This slightly soggy fairway doesn't make the pitches anyisier. Over the

water. -- any easier. Use the slope behind,

it is tricky. Not much landing area. Well I am not sure that was as

intended, but it has worked out extremely well. I may be be doing

her a disservice. Hard to tell. It is 66 yards. Wanting the lady, they

can't hit it as hard as a man so they tend to get that firmer first

bounce. So going straight at this, the pin

is on about five yards. 66 yards, almost a little close.

Nicely judged. Snuffling away. Hay fever or a cold. Cold? A yard short

and that was struggling to get over the water.

As Peter says she gouges out an enormous divot. She has 65 and this

is a soggy old fairway. Does that make you nervous? Makes

you a little nervous. Come on Charlie.

Three good tee shot, three good second shots.

She said she was feeling the pressure, you get the home support,

it can lift you, she was filing more pressure than usual, wasn't

necessarily looking forward to all the home support. Eagle chance for

Lexi Thompson. Stay up, stay up. That was comfortable, easy as birdie

as you would want to see. Two mighty blow, two putts and Lexi Thompson

gets it back to level par. Back to back birdies now.

And here is Liz Young. Expecting a baby in a couple of months. Telling

me this morning she usually gets tired after about 15. Holes. She is

a couple more to do. She hasn't played 18 holes yet this week.

Miyazato. Nicely judged. Couple of birdie, couple of bogeys today.

No-one in this group setting things alight. Michelle Wie 4-over,

Thompson, Miyazato level par. Not much break in that, and with

eyes it finds the bottom of the hole.

3-under. Good round if progress from the Australian. Remained competitive

over so many years. They are waiting for the local hero

to nudge this in for a birdie three. Little down the slope.

Oh no. No. She is never a player accused of

slow play eventual. She gets on with things briskly. A confused face

there though. Shanshan Feng, won the European ladies Order of Merit last

year. First Chinese player to do so. Very good. Using what they call aim

point where you read it with your feet and hold the fingers up. You

would have thought had a hair of movement from the right.

Right to middle it goes for Lydia Ko. Not too many birdies for her

today, only her second. A couple of bogeys.

This is the young amateur, the Swedish amateur, 15 years of age.

The youngest competitor in the field she is here because she is the

British amateur champion, she won that Championship in June. Youngest

winner, only turned 15 in March. Fellow country woman for birdie

here. Well, disappointing there for the

Swede, only a four. Got to take your chances when you can. Because on a

course this tree lined, you face a few crises along the way, somewhere

or other, dale Reed said she used to like to get a few birdies and tuck

them in her back pocket and consider them like a bank account.

Most of the really good scores seem to be coming from the morning wave.

That was an impressive lily pad. You could put a small dog on them. When

they were impored the person showed how impressive they were by standing

on them. You can get the huge ones that can take the full weight of a

human being or perhaps small child, if you are not feeling particularly

brave yourself. Big thick things. Peter is staring

at me in a quizzical fashion. He is right to do so.

Early days yet but there are 65 plus ties make the weekend. Those numbers

include the amateur players so we have 35 or so in red figures at the

moment. And there is the spread of the tee

shots on this teasing par-4. 12th hole.

Never a good idea to miss the prepared surface when you have a

short iron in your hand and the flag at the front.

Not player that generates a huge amount of spin in any case, so

chances are this will be beyond the flag.

Plenty of height. Down, down, down... Well, has it stuck? Has it

Fred couples ass they said in the business? It has. It has not quite

moan down there but has got away with it. I think they probably

should have cut that down, that bank, it is just clinging on there

for dear life. Go, she say, what has Michelle Wie

down? Got away with it. Looks a bit troubled at the moment She looks out

of sorts. So Lexi Thompson, again, it is going

to be, she is much sharper through the ball but it is going to be

difficult to generate the control when the ball lands, because she is

just coming out of this longerer grass, the second cut.

-- longer grass. There is plenty of green behind the

flag. Well, I have to say there were three

rather indifferent shots by three top class players. And nothing gets

the blood boiling like making a mess of an easy hole. This is Julia

Engstrom. A couple of bogeys in a row now. Or

will be. We will go back to Lydia Ko, if she can get it out there.

David is working on her, she has been a fader, but she is able to get

a bit more right-to-left on her now. Little shoot forward. Still doesn't

have the distance of the biggest hitters though, but that is not her

game. This to join Jutanugarn in the lead.

At 7-under. Not enough pace. Feng is playing

with the young am Stuening Strom so what an experience for the young we

see dish player. Watching golf at the highest calibre at close

quarters. -- Swedish. Ai Miyazato did get away

with it: A little pitch up, and might even have a birdie.

Very nearly did. That would be one against the head. In it will go for

a par. I thought they might cut down the

grass on that bank so any short, it is only a short hole any way, you

shouldn't be punished if you are missing the fairway or missing the

green, Miyazato escapes unscathed. Well, that shows the positions of

the tee shots there on 13. There was almost a Little Mix up.

They thought the ball was theirs. Ko spotted it. That was a fantastic

flight. First to play has 163. Been on the front of the green. I have

not seen this hollow that is tricky. If you pitch short of the green it

will come trickling back to you. Not easy, you can pitch it long and

right and it will gather up. 163, probably about six direct. Not

much room to land the ball on. You could pitch it eight or nine

yard in to right and it should leak all the way to the left.

Just midway between the camera tower and the flag would be a good place

to land. Chased down. Beautifully played by Wessberg. Wonderful shot.

If Lydia Ko had played the wrong ball that it would have been a two

shot penalty. Lexi Thompson. Going with the putter from just off the

back. This one surely has to go. Thought it was a broken club there,

the shaft thrashed into the tree. It has done extremely well. Stay there.

Curtailed, followed through from the tree trunk, but nae bad. A little

downhill. Shorter than that. Trying to follow her playing partner.

One last sniff and then fire it towards the target. Hop down.

Just as Ken suggested, slightly more difficult putt she has left them

Wessberg's. Tester for Thompson. She is a

dangerous woman when she is holing putts. That will really help her

momentum. I know it's only a par putt but sometimes those are the

biggest in the round. She's one who keeps her glove on while putting.

It's not particularly rare. Karrie Webb. Going along very nicely

indeed. Slightly out of position here. Urging it on. To no avail.

Down to where Juli Inkster was not that long ago.

-- Julia Engstrom. Looking down on Shanshan Feng. We welcome to the

commentary box, the former winner of the women's open here. Was that the

Duke's corset was played it was, in 1990. We have seen some good golf

today, Helen. I love the way Shanshan Feng plays. She just gets

on with it. With her emotions, you never know what she is shooting.

Always a smile on her face and very simple. A little upslope.

Considering whether tee shot was, she has every chance of getting down

in two. This should just run out. Pretty well played. Talking about

players who just get up and get on with it, Charley Hull is one of

those. I love it. I think it takes a lot of mental energy to just make a

decision and go. One thing we have talked about quite a lot, a lot of

discussion between caddies and players in the women's game. It

takes a lot of time. When you talk about a spectacle, something you

want to watch, perhaps it's not the best. I agree with you. That was one

of my big problems when I played, it was taking so long. If you play with

more of an instinct, not being so precise. Mental coaches would say,

don't hit until you are ready, but I said to one bill, today would be

great. A lot of things its field. You need to know what clubs to hit.

Let's see if Lydia Ko can feel this one in. Hasn't really got into the

run today. Has had a few missed shots, which is very

uncharacteristic for her. Perhaps not having quite the feel of these

greens yet. Perhaps not quite as quick as some of the surfaces in the

US on the LPGA Tour. But she has missed a few that ordinarily she

would get in. But she wouldn't ordinarily come out shooting on the

first day, she'd normally climbs up and finds herself somewhere at the

top on Sunday afternoon. Biding her time. The correct pronunciation,"

Vessberg" or Wessberg? Wessberg. I went all Germanic with the V. We

were talking about her. A lot of players start looking at the hole.

It's a great help, but you have to be firm when you do it. Modelled by

Jordan Spieth, looking at the hole when putting. In it goes. Not quite

finishing off that beautiful second shot. Nine pars in a row. Just not

happening on the greens at the moment. It's quite frustrating

sometimes. You give yourself chances, particularly when you see a

lot of the field is making some birdies and you are just hanging on,

even or 1-over. It's never not that exciting. It's never not that

exciting. We had to Lexi Thompson again. Going

with the driver here. He doesn't really need the driver, does she? --

she doesn't. Again, getting a big shoot forward.

It's another 40 yards or so there. Her father Scott is on the bag. It

must be an interesting dynamic, having a father caddy for you. We

see it quite a lot in women's golf, and sometimes in women's sport,

fathers can be dominant figures, parents can. You have to have a

close relationship with your caddy. At times the relationship can strain

so it be interesting if your father is there. They have grown up with

two brothers so they have done a lot of golf together. He has been around

as long as I have known her. I don't think he's one of those parents. He

has been very supportive. She's the one who's the toughest on herself.

It has just gone for Michelle Wie at the moment. Fighting with herself

and her swing. We have talked about her injuries. Lydia Ko at the 14th.

Playing at 173 yards over the valley.

Just got to favour the left of the pin. If you drift to the right it

can carry along over the front of the green. The pin is on 11, nine

from the left. It's so interesting to watch this group, Kent, don't you

think, with Charley Hull being more active and Libya is so calm and

cool. That's right. -- and Lydia. She's definitely a cucumber, and the

other is more zesty orange. Wessberg is next, has hit a lot of nice shots

today but hasn't holed that much. Time for the zesty one. Hit six and

it has to be just on the four, cranked up behind it. -- just under

four. It would be a massive hit with a 7-iron. I know the wind is across.

Asking it to go for her. Oh dear. It's lying OK in there. It's not the

worst. Looks as if she was trying to give it that bit extra.

Back to the 13th and the tee shots of Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson.

Always going to struggle out of the rough. It's quite noisy at Woburn

but they are providing wonderful overhead pictures, the aircraft.

Shanshan Feng to get to 7-under par. A great thing for that little

Swedish girl to play with Shanshan Feng because she makes it look so

easy. A great learning experience, I think. Like you say, 6-under, and

it's been a very comfortable 6-under as well.

I was so pleased. I read in an interview that she is not very

technical, not working too much on her golf swing, more on the shots.

So nice to hear that when you hear of so many other players being

extremely technical. Doing it by numbers. Lexi Thompson, you can

see... You know your swing is basically sound anyway. Beyond that,

the feel will bring you good scores. Michelle Wie, you see her with her

little set before and you know there is a lot of thought going on at the

moment. I thought when she won the US Open, which I love to watch, I

thought she played exactly the way she should be playing. Very focused,

target oriented. I thought that she was finally getting into it. I don't

know if it's all the injuries she's had, but she always seems to be

working on something. Like you say, a little too quirky, not the way she

should be swinging it. Wessberg, the first to play. Over

the back of the green. It will turn a corner a bit from right-to-left

and it's downhill. That's so-so. Working hard after her

loose tee shot. Long run-off pars might be coming to an end. She could

still knock that in. Three pretty wide tee shots here, one short, one

left, one long and right. How's it lying in the bunk for Charley Hull,

Ken? It's lying pretty nicely. The green is running away from her on a

big tilt from left-to-right. Whether caddy is standing, she might have to

go a long way left. It's one of those who have to flip in the air

and get it to land softly, never easy when the green is above you.

She is at that stage in her around where if she could have a nice, tidy

finish she would be happy, but with a couple of errors coming in, there

is no recovery time today. You see how far left she went. It will feed

around. And it runs away on the slope.

A stab of the upslope for Karrie Webb. As tidy as always. A little

bit uphill. Strong acceleration. Seems to be on an even keel, Lydia

Ko. Nothing fazes her too much. One of her great strengths.

Very nicely done by Karrie Webb. Keeps a good round going. Remains

3-under. A couple of holes from home. She's still one of the most

impressive ball strikers I saw when I was out there. She had a shot from

pretty much anywhere. I loved to play with her, to learn every single

time. Even though she's a lot younger. As we have talked about,

she will not be going to the Olympics for Australia. Minjee Lee

and sick on how. Justin Rose and Danny Willett will be going for

Great Britain along with Charley Hull. What a great thing it would be

to call yourself an Olympian. To be in the Olympic village, with all

those other athletes. What a save from Charley Hull. That's the way to

keep your round going. Things just in danger of getting away from her.

A bright start, a couple of birdies in the first three holes, but

remains under par despite nonsense. -- despite none since.

Maybe now she needs her friends to come out. She says she doesn't want

her friend watching. One friend is a golfer and she doesn't mind him

watching because he gets it, but the others don't really get it. She

doesn't particularly like them watching, but she has plenty of

support anyway. Bit of movement from the right. I suppose level but not

as fast as it perhaps looks. All the fault of that tee shot which

was a real misjudgement. Nine pars in a row comes to an end with a

bogey four at the 14th. Cross, how do you say that in

Swedish? Cross. That's the same? Yeah, she is cross. Swedish is a

very easy language. Not even an accent. Have you tried this aim

point, Helen? Henni Zuel was trying to explain it to me but it didn't

really make much sense after she did so. It is a little tricky. Don't you

think a lot of it is taking wavy instincts. Everything is numbers. I

think you feel a lot of it when you putt. -- taking away instincts.

Beautiful, just enough pace to hold its line. I'm just always aware that

I don't like things that make you take even longer to play than it

already does. No, and it certainly does that. Lexi Thompson, a little

more swift about things and write in the middle it goes. It's a good run

now, three birdies in the last four, it has really turned her around for

the better. Having said that, a slight

misjudgement, coming up a bit shy. Arie Jutanugarn at the top.