SAMMAMISH, Wash. — Inbee Park could finally crack a smile, even if she was five shots behind leader Brooke Henderson.

With no more nerves or anxiety about whether Park’s injured thumb would hold up, the South Korean star was never more excited to make bogey than on the 18th to finish off the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Thursday – the round that made her eligible for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Brooke Henderson, of Canada, was the surprise leader on Thursday at the Women's PGA Championship, shooting a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead. Associated Press/Elaine Thompson

“I was quite nervous this morning. I don’t think I was this nervous when I was going for a major championship,” Park said. “This is a very, very special feeling. And I’m really going to enjoy Hall of Fame.”

Park’s score of 1-over 72 didn’t really matter. It left the three-time defending champion of the event well back of Henderson, who shot a 4-under 67 in her morning round.

At age 27, Park is the youngest player to qualify for the Hall of Fame. She completed the final eligibility requirement by playing the first round of her 10th event of her 10th season. She has won seven major titles and has 17 LPGA Tour victories.

Park has been dealing with inflammation in the tendon and ligaments of her left thumb, but overcame the discomfort to be on the leaderboard for most of the first round before making the bogey on the final hole.

As she walked off the putting surface, Park celebrated with family, Hall of Famers, fellow competitors and tour officials. Hall of Famers Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Juli Inkster and Karrie Webb were among the crowd greeting Park and welcoming her to an exclusive club in women’s golf. Park is only the 24th player in the LPGA Hall of Fame and first since Pak in 2007.

Park was tied for second at 2 under after rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt on the ninth. She scrambled for pars to start the back nine, making a 15-footer on the 11th after hitting her drive into the rough.

Park bogeyed the 12th and 14th holes to fall back to even par. She missed a short birdie putt at No. 17 and pulled her second shot from the fairway on the 18th and missed a 20-footer for par.

Henderson did her part in trying to steal the attention from Park. The 18-year-old Canadian, ranked fourth in the world, sparked her round by making an ace on the 13th hole – her fourth hole of the day – hitting a 7-iron from 155 yards to the left side of the green. The shot caught the apron and funneled directly to the cup.

PGA: Shawn Stefani, Tom Hoge and Seung-yul Noh shared the FedEx St. Jude Classic lead at 5-under 65 after one round in Memphis, Tennessee.

Little wind and perfect-though-fast greens created near perfect scoring conditions at the TPC Southwind. Some extra rough requiring tight shots also provided a good test for players preparing for the U.S. Open next week at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.

Hoge had a bogey-free round in the morning group. This is only the second time Hoge has played the event, but he has qualified for the U.S. Open twice in Memphis and tied for 12th at Southwind last year.

Dustin Johnson, the 2012 champ, was in the group at 66 with Steve Stricker, Jamie Donaldson, Colt Knost, Brian Gay and Miguel Angel Carballo.

• Darren Clarke withdrew from the U.S. Open because he says his Ryder Cup duties have kept him from preparing the right way.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Jay Don Blake birdied three of the last five holes at windy Philadelphia Cricket Club for a 2-under 70 and the first-round lead in the Constellation Senior Players Championship.

Blake had five birdies and three bogeys on the Wissahickon Course.

The 57-year-old Blake won the last of his three senior titles in 2012. He won at Torrey Pines in 1991 for his lone PGA Tour victory.

Related Stories