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The AIG Women’s Open wouldn’t be the AIG Women’s Open without hordes of home fans cheering Charley Hull’s every move.
The 30-year-old [above] made a dream start by picking up a shot at the par-3 1st.
Charley – ever the entertainer – only registered three pars in the opening 11 holes, blending three bogeys with four more birdies.
Runner-up twice in the last three years, Charley sits in a tie for eighth after day one. Also in this position is 2024 Smyth Salver winner Lottie Woad who, alongside Jeeno and Celine Boutier, was one of only three players to not drop a shot on Thursday.
Like Charley, new mum Georgia Hall – Champion at Royal Lytham in 2018 – also received a warm reception on every tee box and around every green as she signed for a five-over 76.
Another English player, Alice Hewson, had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot. Buoyed by this, Alice birdied the 1st and was one of seven golfers to eagle the par-5 6th, as she posted a one-under-par 70.
Leaderboard
-7 Jeeno Thitikul
-5 Shiho Kuwaki, Haeran Ryu
-4 Celine Boutier, Yealimi Noh
-3 Chizzy Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen