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English woman sits alongside 17-year-old Megha Ganne
Words: GolfPunk
Photography: USGA
GolfPunk tip Mel Reid opened with a four-under-par 67 at the U.S. Women's Open to share the lead with 17-year-old American Megha Ganne.
Hmm. or perhaps I'll just smash it!
Reid had five birdies and a single dropped shot in her first round at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Reid has only broken 70 once in previous U.S. Women's Open rounds and has missed the cut at four out of five of her last Open outings. "I didn't think that score was out there," said Reid. "It's probably the best [round] I've had for a [major] tournament."
Mel Reid putting at the 2nd hole
Reid hit fourteen greens in regulation and got off to a great start birdying her opening two holes, the 9th and 10th. She added further birdies at the 15th and 16th before giving up a shot at the 18th. Another birdie at the short par four 7th took Reid to four-under and the lead. "I think the conditions are going to get tougher," said the 33-year-old. "The rough is going to grow up a bit. The greens are going to get firmer. If it gets windy, it's a tough golf course. You cannot switch off on any single hole."
All smiles from amateur Megha Ganne
Megha Ganne, a High School junior, was one off the 18-hole amateur scoring record with her 67 that matched Reid. Ganne qualified for the 2019 U.S. Women's Open at Country Club of Charleston, where she missed the cut and was a semi-finalist at the 2019 U.S. Women's Amateur. Ganne went out in a three-under 32 and had three further birdies and two dropped on her back nine. But for her bogey at her final hole, the 18th, the amateur would have led the event. "I didn't panic when I got into the rough a couple of times out there," said Ganne. "The [bogey] on 18, I was talking to my caddie and I was like, 'Is this dumb?' And I ended up going for it. I probably should have just laid back there given my lie." One shot back in a tie for third is Angel Yin, Megan Khang and past KPMG Women's PGA champion Brooke Henderson. Major champions Lexi Thompson and Shanshan Feng sit alongside Yuka Saso of the Philippines, two strokes back on two-under-par.
Lexi Thompson off to a good start
Mel Reid's countrywomen struggled on day one with Charley Hull shooting four-over and Georgia Hall and Jodie Ewart-Shadoff two shots further back on six-over. Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow is another player who needs a good second round as she sits on five-over.
