NAPLES, Fla. — Narin An showcased impressive skill amidst windy conditions on Thursday, utilizing her remarkable putting technique to secure four consecutive birdies around the turn, culminating in an impressive 8-under 64 that puts her one stroke ahead in the CME Group Tour Championship.
With a competitive field of 60 players, the prize for the winner is a remarkable $4 million, marking the highest single payout in women’s golf history.
Nelly Korda, who has enjoyed a standout season with seven victories, faces a daunting challenge as she trails by eight strokes heading into the next three days of play at Tiburon Golf Club. Korda, fresh off a win last week, could not recover from three bogeys that led to an even-par 72. Although she has successfully rallied from behind in four of her previous wins, this time it presents a more formidable challenge.
At 28, An is still pursuing her first LPGA title and has yet to place in the top 10 in any of the 16 majors she has participated in. Despite this, she found her rhythm on the course. “Today my putt was really good,” she expressed. “The speed was on point, and the shape was right. I just tried to concentrate a bit more.”
An finished the day with a slim lead over Angel Yin, who soared after scoring a 30 on the back nine, featuring an eagle on the easily reachable par-5 17th hole.
The leaderboard also includes former U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz and Marina Alex, both at 66, while Lydia Ko leads a group with a score of 67. Despite the challenging winds prevalent along Florida’s Gulf Coast, nearly half the players in the tournament (27) managed to shoot in the 60s, a testament to their skills under pressure.
“It’s a solid start for the significant prize we’ll compete for at the week’s end,” remarked Yin.
This week’s champion will not only claim a whopping prize but also break the LPGA record for the most earnings in a season, a record that has stood since 2007. That year, Lorena Ochoa set the benchmark at $4,364,994, at a time when total prize money was just about half of what it is now, with Ochoa pocketing $1 million for her Tour Championship win.
The opening round followed an exciting evening of awards for the LPGA Tour, during which Korda was recognized officially as Player of the Year, an honor she had secured earlier in the month.
Additionally, Ko received accolades for her outstanding season, which included an Olympic gold medal propelling her into the LPGA Hall of Fame. She approached the first round with renewed determination, recalling her success on this course just two years prior.
“The course is challenging,” Ko commented. “I aimed for a 3-under today, yet someone shot 8-under. I thought to myself, ‘Alright, perhaps I need to land more birdies.’ This course can be unpredictable; while low scores are possible, one can also find themselves in a tricky position, so I’m sticking to my strategy.”
Albane Valenzuela from Switzerland, also tied with a score of 67, celebrated a remarkable year marked by her debut in the Solheim Cup and first appearance in the Tour Championship. Having narrowly missed out on her inaugural LPGA win last week at Pelican Golf Club, she continues to maintain her solid form. The allure of the finish line motivates her performance.
“Everyone has their eyes on that $4 million prize,” Valenzuela acknowledged. “I try not to focus too heavily on the outcome. I’ve found that previously, I became too fixated on results. Ultimately, the only thing I can control is my game, my energy, and my commitment. This week is special; it feels like a bonus. Regardless, everyone walks away with a paycheck.”