ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Wearing a black rain suit and a soft smile, Inbee Park looked calm as ever standing before the imposing Royal & Ancient clubhouse just moments before she teed off Thursday in the Women’s British Open.

Only after her unsteady round of 3-under 69 did Park reveal perhaps the biggest surprise at St. Andrews.

She was nervous.

“But then once the round started and especially playing so good in the first few holes, that really gave me a lot of confidence,” Park said. “I didn’t feel much pressure when I was playing during the round. I’m just glad that it’s already started and I got the first round under my belt.”

Park wound up three shots behind Morgan Pressel and Camilla Lennarth of Sweden, a solid start to what should be a fascinating week at the home of golf.

Her pursuit of history looked more like a high-speed chase when the 25-year-old South Korean made six birdies in 10 holes. Three poor tee shots, two three-putt bogeys and one double bogey from a pot bunker on the back nine made her realize there’s a reason no golfer has ever won four majors in a single year.

“Felt like a roller coaster today,” Park said.

She was only too happy it finally stopped with a 6-foot birdie on the 18th hole, ending a slide during which she dropped four shots in a five-hole span.

Pressel, one spot out of making the Solheim Cup team this week, caught a break when the rain and wind never materialized in the afternoon. She made seven birdies in a round of 66 that gave her a share of the lead with Lennarth, who birdied the 18th.

Stacy Lewis, the former No. 1 player in women’s golf, shot 31 on the tougher back nine for a 67 to be part of a large group that included former U.S. Women’s Open champion Na Yeon Choi and Nicole Castrale. Another shot behind were Paula Creamer, Catriona Matthew and Lizette Salas.

Those who played early had reason to worry.

Lewis was on the 10th tee when she looked over at Park knocking in an 18-foot birdie putt, her fifth of the round. Castrale had not yet teed off when her husband saw a leaderboard with Park’s name in a familiar position.

“It’s amazing, the fact we all possibly can play with history,” Castrale said. “It’s amazing what she’s done to this point, the composure she has. I don’t know what she shot today but I’m going to guess she’ll be in the mix come Sunday.”

 

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