There was no Lorena Ochoa to follow around the course, so crowds were thinner than in previous years, but the opening day of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at the Guadalajara Country Club Thursday provided plenty of talking points. Not least of them was the fine form of 51-year-old American Juli Inkster, who shot a bogey-free, five-under 67, along with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen.
A victory in Guadalajara would make Inkster the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history.
While that would mean a lot to her, winning Ochoa’s tournament would mean even more.
“I love Lorena and I would love to win this tournament because her name is attached to it,” Inkster said at the post round press conference. “Lorena is such a special person. Everyone on tour respects her and it would definitely be special to win this event. But I’ve got a long way to go.”
Pettersen, who lies in fifth place in tour earnings this season, has come close to winning the last two Guadalajara tournaments and believes this could be her year.
“I love this course, and it’s nice to be here at Lorena’s home club and in front of her home crowd.”
The Norwegian said one of the attractions of the Country Club is that it is “a very old fashioned golf course, tree lined, so we have to shape it a little bit off the tee.”
Pettersen also paid tribute to the Guadalajara Country Club members. “I think they love having us here, and we truly appreciate being here.”
A lot of the pre-tournament buzz surrounded world number one Yani Tseng. But Thursday was a torrid day for the 23-year-old from Taiwan. She ended the round in 34th place in the 36-player field, keeping up her mediocre form in this event – she’s never finished higher than eighth.
That’s surprising for a golfer who has enjoyed a phenomenal season, winning seven times on the LPGA Tour and 11 times worldwide.
Tseng has won 2,873,629 dollars so far this season – more than double her nearest challenger, Cristie Kerr.
Before the first round, Tseng said she believed she could tame the course but admitted it was a tough test.
“You are hitting all different shots on this golf course. Hitting 14 clubs,” she said. “I need to trust my instincts and trust the club I pick.”
Tseng has taken over Ochoa’s mantle as world’s best player since the Guadalajara-born player retired from the LPGA Tour last year.
For the first time, Ochoa is enjoying her own tournament from the “outside.” But being eight months pregnant didn’t stop the former world number one from taking part in her annual clinic on Tuesday. She also hit a few balls and signed caps before returning Thursday to watch the world’s top 33 female players tee off in the one-million-dollar tournament.
"It's great for me to say hi to the players and be more involved outside the ropes and in interviews and spending time with my sponsors," she said.
The tournament continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Play starts 10 a.m. Tickets available at the gate (Mar Egeo 260, one block Av. Avila Camacho).
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