Georgia Hall hits her tee shot on the third hole at Royal Troon as Charley Hull looks on during a practice round ahead of the 2020 AIG Women’s Open. Picture by DAVID CANNON

GEORGIA Hall hopes to feed off her love of links golf and passion for the AIG Women’s Open as she goes in search of a second Major title at Royal Troon.

The 24-year-old is enjoying the buzz of the first women’s Major Championship of the year.

And its the event Hall memorably won in 2018 at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Given Royal Troon is set to present a similar links challenge, the Dorset player is relishing the task as a star-studded international field prepares to compete from Thursday.

With the AIG Women’s Open being played without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hall said: “It’s lovely coming to an event knowing that you’ve won it and done the job in a Women’s Open.

“I look forward to this more than any other throughout the year.

“It’s always very special to see all the massive boards everywhere and it definitely feels like a Major.”

The R&A Women and Girls’ Golf ambassador added: “I think it’s an amazing venue at Royal Troon. I love links golf.

“I only bring the three-iron out once a year, and this is the week. So I can’t wait. I’ve heard it’s going to be windy, so it’s going to play extremely tough.”

Hull found some form playing the Rose Ladies Series, winning the £20,000 American Golf Order of Merit and getting in some links practice at Royal St George’s

Hull: Rose Series was good prep

WHILE fellow Solheim Cup winner Charley Hull is more familiar with parkland courses, the 24-year-old has experience of Royal Troon.

The Woburn pro, who hails from Kettering, played it in her early teens as an amateur in the Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship.

“I’m feeling good,” said Hull, who has posted five top-10s in Majors.

“I played Royal St George’s in the Rose Ladies Series about a month ago and that kind of got me in some links golf.

“The golf course is in great condition. The greens are rolling really nicely.

“I like it because it doesn’t look that long on the scorecard. But it has a lot of lay-up holes that leave longer irons into the greens. I quite like that because I’m a strong long-iron player.”

With Royal Troon hosting the AIG Women’s Open for the first time, Hull is especially looking forward to the challenge of the ‘Postage Stamp’ – the short eighth, which measures just 114 yards.

“It’s only a wedge,” said Charley. “It depends on the wind direction, so it’s a good birdie hole I think.

“There’s a lot more tricky holes out there, but it’s a cool little hole.”

Dame Laura Davies, making her 40th appearance in the championship, has the honour of striking the opening tee shot on Thursday morning at 6.30am.

Danielle Kang paid tribute to Dame Laura Davies, who is playing her 40th Women’s British Open this week at Royal Troon. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

Kang pays tribute to Dame Laura Davies

WORLD No. 2 Danielle Kang has been the form player in recent weeks with back-to-back LPGA wins.

Kang, who came up just short in last week’s LPGA Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, in North Berwick, which was won by Stacey Lewis, paid tribute to the most successful British player in modern history.

“Dame Laura Davies is a legend, an absolute legend,” said Danielle. “And she’s a role model in how she approaches the game.

“How she plays the game is different – her style of golf is different. And she’s so strong in how she plays her game, yet so different and it’s so graceful.

“For her to be able to play this championship for 40 appearances, that is amazing. It tells you that you can do it for a long time, and golf gives us that.

“Any time she plays, I still watch from across the fairway. She’s our rock.”

Australia’s Hannah Green can’t wait to tackle Troon. The World No. 20 said: “My mum’s side of the family is from Scotland. They are up in Fraserburgh, which is about 45 minutes north of Aberdeen.

“My first actual trip to Scotland was in 2018, so not that long ago. I was then fortunate enough last year that I got to play St Andrews, but I had not actually been to this side of Scotland.

“I’m really excited to be here. I feel like I do have, you know, somewhat of an idea of links golf. I’m from Perth where it does get windy – but probably not the same scene as Troon.”

Japan’s Hinako Shibuno last year’s winner at Woburn Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Cinderella Shibuno went to the ball and is back for more

DEFENDING champion Hinako Shibuno, from Japan, has promised the TV audience will at least see her beaming smile this week.

Shibuno lit up the galleries with her smile a year ago at Woburn, and was dubbed the “Smiling Cinderella.”

Hinako said: “I’ve always been conscious of keeping a smile on my face while I’m playing.

“But after winning the AIG Women’s Open last year, it made me realise, once again, the importance of playing with a smile.

“I’ve had a lot of experiences but nothing that tops my experience of winning the AIG Women’s Open.

“I’m going to have to play smart. But at the same time as defending champion, I’m going to enjoy it.”

Another past winner looking forward to the first Major of the year is Thailand’s Ariya Jutangarn.

The 2016 winner from Thailand, said: “As soon as I walked in, I felt like this is a Major, because everything is set up, especially the golf course.

“My caddie told me how great it is and how tough it is, how challenging it is. I think the first thing I learnt on links is patience.

“You really need to be patient because, especially the weather, you can’t control it. It can be windy. It can be raining. Anything can happen in one round.”

The staging of the AIG Women’s Open continues a rich history at Royal Troon, having hosted The Open on nine occasions.

It has also hosted events such as The Senior Open Championship, the Amateur Championship and the Women’s Amateur Championship.

•For further information visit www.AIGwomensopen.com

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Woburn’s Charley Hull tied with Brokenhurst Women’s Open founder Liz Young – but won the play-off to become the first Rose Ladies Series winner. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

CHARLEY Hull won the first Rose Ladies Series Event in some style.

The Woburn ace defeated Hampshire heroine Liz Young with a birdie on the first extra hole at Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club, in the New Forest.

Spectators weren’t allowed inside the venue due to government social distancing guidelines.

But they would have been treated to a fantastic tournament and a thrilling finale which went to a play-off.

Both players carded level par rounds of 70 in overcast and windy conditions.

Young, who organised the event at her home club, played in the first group out and set the clubhouse target.

But she waited for three-and-a-half hours before Hull matched her score.

World No. 25 Hull was two strokes clear with two holes to play and looked to have the £5,000 winner’s cheque tucked in her back pocket.

But the Solheim Cup winner double bogeyed the par-four 17^th hole, after hitting a rescue wood off-line right into a ditch from the tee.

She had a chance to birdie the 18^th to win in regulation play but missed the putt on the hole.

The 18th is driveable when the county’s leading amateur players contest the Mike Smith Memorial Open, which was won by Hampshire junior Justin Rose, back in 1996.

After pitching on to the green, Hull took her chance at the first extra hole, rolling in a similar putt from 12 feet beyond the hole.

Charley Hull, from Woburn, receives her £5,000 cheque and a rose bowl from joint sponsor Kate Rose, wife of reigning Olympic Golf champion Justin. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

Charley’s been to Hull and back getting ready for return of LPGA

THE new champion was presented with a rose bowl and winner’s cheque for £5,000 by Kate Rose, wife of PGA Tour star Justin, who together, reportedly sponsored the series to the tune of £35,000.

That sum was believed to have been matched by sponsors American Golf enabling the Brokenhurst event to be rolled out into a series of eight tournaments in the next two months.

Hull hadn’t played a competitive round in almost five months – in fact since the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, in Florida, in January.

Charley said: “I’m just so happy to be playing professional golf again and have a scorecard in my hand.

“The golf course was in great condition and it was my first time round here today.

“I was quite happy with my score. I doubled the 17^th because I  took a wrong line off the tee. But it was just great to be playing.

“I’ve missed it loads. I love playing golf. I’m pretty much golfed out because I’ve been playing every day. But I can’t wait to get back out on tour.

“I want to thank Justin and Kate Rose for putting these events on.

“You need to be playing to get back in the mindset. I’ve been playing a lot for the last few weeks and I played eight days on the trot.

“But it’s not the same as having a scorecard in your hand. I’ll go back to America in four weeks’ time, so hopefully this will get my brain back into tournament golf.”

Hull said she had never seen the course before but described the Harry Colt classic as a “hidden gem.”

Ex-amateur champs: Play-off rivals

HULL and Young – who was Liz Bennett as an amateur – are both past English Women’s Amateur Champions.

Young, the World No. 503, was pleased with finishing second, especially as she hadn’t played a competitive round in more than six months.

“I was excited and really nervous,” said Young, who last played at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in December.

“It has been a long time since a card was in the hand. I was playing on my own course, so had the home advantage.

“But I also know where all the trouble is. I was really happy with how I played and level par, because it was playing tough out there.

“I was playing well in practise and I just hadn’t put much time in on the course.

“It’s all coming together and I’m just excited that I’ve got another seven tournaments in which to play.

“This is the start of something great for UK golf and hopefully this will continue.”

Essex’s Gabriella Cowley finished third on 71, with Hertfordshire’s Hannah Burke in fourth a further shot back.

Holly Calvert and Berkhamsted’s Alice Hewson – who won the Investec South African Women’s Open champion on her first start as a Ladies European Tour rookie – tied for fifth.

Liz Young with her husband and caddy Jon having seen the dream of creating the Brokenhurst Manor Women’s Open to help LET players get back into tournament golf.
Picture by TRISTAN JONES

Wentworth to stage final round of Grand Final

THERE will be a Rose Ladies Series Event played on Thursday each week, in June and July, leading up to the Grand Final on August 6-7.

The opening round will be played at The Berkshire, in Ascot, with the final round to be hosted on the famous West Course at Wentworth.

With Justin Rose’s management team Excel Sports teaming up with Young to put on the series, the England Golf ambassador was able to invite three of the country’s leading amateurs to play.

ROSE LADIES SERIES
June 25: Moor Park Golf Club
July 2: Buckinghamshire Golf Club
9: Royal St George’s Golf Club
16: JCB Golf and Country Club
23: Bearwood Lakes
30: The Shire, London
GRAND FINAL
August 6: The Berkshire Golf Club
7: Wentworth Golf Club (West Course)

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Canada’s David Morland IV takes a one-shot lead into the final round of the Staysure Tour’s Qualifying School, at the Algarve’s Pestano Golf Resort. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DAVID Morland IV is back on top of a Staysure Tour Qualifying School leaderboard – and takes a one-shot lead into the last round of Final Stage at Pestana Golf Resort, on Thursday.

The Canadian, who won First Stage at Gramacho Golf Course last week, sits on 10-under par following rounds of 66, 70 and 67.

Morland is aiming to wrap up his second consecutive victory to complete the task of securing one of five Staysure Tour cards available in the Algarve this week.

“I’ve been playing well for a while now,” Morland said. “I’m not getting ahead of myself. I’m just taking it one shot at a time and putting well, so I’ve just got to keep going.

“It’s the old cliché of taking it shot by shot until the 72nd hole and then you add them up when you’re done.

πIt was nice to play a solid round today and I look forward to tomorrow.”

The former PGA Tour player is making his second appearance at Final Stage after narrowly missing out on a card in 2019.

The two-time winner on the Nationwide Tour knows the importance of trusting the work he has been putting into his game.

“I do my prep work prior to the tournament, so at this point it’s more about conserving energy, staying rested for tomorrow and being ready to go,” added Morland, who came through the PGA Tour Qualifying School, in 1999 and 2000.

Kiwi Michael Long sits alone in second place on nine-under following his third consecutive sub-70 round, while Scottish amateur Euan McIntosh occupies third place on eight-under par.

Hampshire amateur Martin Young is joined by three fellow Englishmen – Woburn’s Mark Wharton, plus Surrey pair Andrew Raitt and Gary Marks – in a share of fourth place on six-under.

Of the quartet, it was Wharton who stole the show on moving day by converting nine birdies – including five in a row to start the back nine – and an eagle to card his lowest round as a professional, an eight- under par 63.

The effort moved him 30 places up the leaderboard and has put a Staysure Tour return in sight for the Bedfordshire county player, who 20 years ago.

Wharton, along with fellow Staysure pro and county team-mate John Kemp, a former British Mid-Amateur Champion, played regularly for Bedfordshire against Young in the South East Qualifiers for the English County Finals.

Brokenhurst Manor member Young made a strong start to his third round in Portugal.

Two birdies in the first three holes saw him reach the turn in two-under after giving up a third birdie at the sixth, with a bogey five at the seventh.

The 2006 English Mid-Amateur Champion, who became the first player in Hampshire history to complete the county’s Grand Slam of all four major men’s titles in the same season in 2014, then burst into life on the back nine.

Showing no respect to the seasoned seniors professionals trying to regain their cards, Young made three birdies in a row from the 11th to get to five-under on his round.

But he had to settle for a par-in conclusion to his third round, having moved into one of the crucial five spots at the top of the leaderboard, finishing the third round in that share of fourth.

If there is a tie for the fifth and final card at the end of 72 holes on Thursday, the honours will be decided by a sudden death play-off.

•The last round of Staysure Tour Qualifying School begins tomorrow at 9:00 am local time while the final group of Morland IV, Long and McIntosh is set to go at 9.50am.

Click here for live scoring.

Hampshire captain Martin Young after his team’s win at Trevose in 2017.
Picture by ANDREW GRIFIFN / AMG PICTURES

Young eyes Seniors’ prizes as pro or amateur

MARTIN Young, who turns 50 later this summer, has helped Hampshire reach seven English County Finals since 2001.

In 2017, Young led his team to their first victory in 21 years – when a teenage Justin Rose was in the team – at Trevose, which is now a European Seniors Tour venue.

Frenchman Jean-Francois Remesy claimed his first title in England at the spectacular North Cornwall links.

The field has been cut to only those players within eight shots of the last qualification spot, meaning that 39 players on two over par or better will play tomorrow’s final round.

Young travelled to Portugal having opted to retain his amateur status, but will be eligible to try to qualify for the British Seniors Open, which takes place at Sunningdale – a course that he has tasted success at on the mid-amateur circuit – in August, regardless of whether he turns pro or not.

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Atthaya Thitikul – winner of the LET Thailand Championship in June.
Picture by TRISTAN JONES

Thitikul, the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion, was one of two amateurs to make the cut at the year’s final major.

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TWENTY-year-old Hinako Shibuno from Japan will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the AIG Women’s British Open after a brilliant back nine at Woburn, on Saturday.

In front of 14,000-strong crowds lining the Marquess’ course, Shibuno reached the turn in one over par.

But the Japanese rookie came alive on the way in with six birdies – including consecutive gains at 17 and 18 – setting up a sizzling 67.

That took her to 14-under for the tournament. It was seriously impressive stuff from the Japanese LPGA rookie playing her first tournament outside her native Japan – and her first Major.

South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai led for most of the day but bogeyed the par-four 16th to slip back, and a level par 72 left her on 12-under overall.

Korean Sung Hyun Park (68) is another shot back in third, with American duo Morgan Pressel (66) and Lizette Salas (70) tied fourth alongside Jin Young Ko (68) – winner of last week’s Evian Championship – who is going for back-to-back Majors.

Spaniard Carlota Ciganda was left to rue a double bogey at the 18th which dropped her to nine-under, the same mark as Woburn favourite Charley Hull and Yorkshire’s Bronte Law, who both shot 70.

Shibuno has never played outside Japan before and only left her country for the first time last year when she went to practise in Thailand.

She is known in the Japanese media as the “Smiling Cinderella.”

Shibuno said: “It’s definitely exceeding my expectations. I came here wanting to make the cut, so right now I feel like I’m doing something very incredible.

“It’s more like a Japanese golf course, so maybe that’s why it’s going so well.”

Buhai was philosophical about her round and admitted she often performs better when not leading from the front.

“I hit so many good shots on that front side,” said 30-year-old Buhai. “I only turned in two-under but I had so many chances.

“A few putts were just a bit short and unfortunately on the back side, I just got a little rattled.

“I kind of felt like I just lost a bit of composure in my rhythm a little bit but I hit some good shots on the last two holes.

“A lot of my wins have been come-from-behind. I always feel better chasing. I think I had a four-shot lead at one stage, but I didn’t let that bother me or get to me.

“I think during a four-round tournament, everybody is going to have a little wobble in their round somewhere.”

Buhai leads at halfway mark at Woburn after getting to 12-under

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SOUTH Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai stormed three shots clear at the AIG Women’s British Open with a flawless second round of 67 in front of nearly 16,000 people at Woburn Golf Club.

The first-round leader did not tee off until 2pm, by which time a number of players had overtaken her on the leaderboard, but she held her nerve to post five birdies and reach 12-under for the tournament.

Japan’s Hinako Shibuno was second on nine-under thanks to a 69, with American Lizette Salas another stroke back and Woburn favourite Charley Hull among five players at seven-under after a second-round 70.

Dorset’s defending champion Georgia Hall had a second successive 69 to lie tied ninth.

England’s Charley Hull plays the second shot on the 12th on the second day of the 2019 Women’s British Open golf championship at Woburn Golf Club, in Milton Keynes, north of London, on August 2, 2019. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

Buhai said: “My goal going out was to get to double figures. Once I got it to eight, nine and 10-under, I felt more comfortable and was able to put my foot down.

“I managed to hit it really close on the 15th hole for a tap-in birdie, and had a good shot into 16 and then holed the putt.

“The front nine I was really steady, I didn’t hit many shots close. I birdied my second hole with a good wedge, and hit a few good putts. I’m trying not to keep thinking it’s a Major – it’s just another tournament.”

Shibuno did not have high expectations heading into the tournament but has been pleasantly surprised by her first experience of Woburn, on the Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire border.

Shibuno – known as the “Smiling Cinderella” – said: “I thought the British Open was a links golf course. I knew, but my image was everything links. I just wanted to make the cut, that’s all. I’m a little nervous for the weekend.

Hull, who knows every blade of grass on Woburn’s Marquess Course, surprisingly said: “I started well but couldn’t get the pace of the greens.

“I missed a few putts I should have holed for birdie. I made a couple of bogeys through 13 and 14 where I should have got up and down.

“I holed a few to finish, so ended on a positive. I sometimes like being the underdog.

“When I play Solheim Cup in America and the crowd is cheering against you, I always prefer that. I don’t know why. I’ve just got to stay focused around here.”

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South African Ashleigh Buhai, first round leader of the AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Hull, who is chasing her first Major victory, said: “I feel like I’ve been playing well all year, I’ve just struggled to trust myself sometimes, so that’s where I suppose I haven’t been scoring.

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AMERICAN LPGA rookie Cheyenne Knight topped the 11 qualifiers at Ashridge, who will make up the field of this week’s final women’s Major of the seaason at Woburn, starting on Thursday.

The LPGA rookie made light work of her first competitive round on English soil by recording a superb score of 65 to top an international leaderboard, which included four former Solheim Cup players, in the final qualifier at the picturesque Hertfordshire course.

Leading the pack for most of the day, the 22-year-old Texan hit the turn in 32 strokes, which included an eagle at the par-five second hole, before adding further gains at holes 11, 12 and 13 to send her on her way to qualifying for her first Women’s British Open.

“I tried not to look at the leaderboard throughout the round and told myself to go as low as I could,” said Knight who carded an excellent seven-under total.

“Coming off the 15th I was six-under par and I didn’t even look at the leaderboard,” Knight added.

It would prove to be a wise move for Knight, who carded another birdie at the par five 17th to seal a second career Major appearance.

Knight also revealed she had an ace up her sleeve in the form of Ashridge Golf Club assistant professional Stuart Hall, whom she met while practising on Friday evening.

Without a caddie lined up for the qualifier, the pair joined forces to strong effect – and the partnership will continue at Woburn after Hall negotiated holiday leave with his employer to be on the bag at his first Major Championship.

Knight added: “If you qualify with someone, I think it is nice to keep them on the bag because they earned it too. I just hope he can get off his shift this Wednesday.”

Two shots adrift, Germany’s Sandra Gal lived up to her reputation as the most experienced professional in the field by posting a round of 67 to qualify in tied second place.

The former Solheim Cup player and LPGA winner was the star attraction for the spectators at the Hertfordshire venue set in acres of National Trust woodland.

“I had some really good support and actually even had a few people walk my practice round late yesterday afternoon, having flown back from Geneva,” said Gal.

“I even had a few dogs following me too, which was really nice.

“I’ve had a tough year this year but did not put any expectations on myself and from the start of the round, I just said whatever happens will happen.

“You really want to play the AIG Women’s British Open and I’m pleased to be at the tournament again.”

Amateur trio Frida Kinhult, Ingrid Lindblad and Emma Spitz joined Gal at five-under, safely claiming their spot in the coveted Major.

Nineteen-year-old Lindblad, who played in the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup, was the first to post the number, only missing three greens in a bogey-free round.

“I saw after the 16th that there were a lot of players at three-under par so I just tried my best to get ahead of them and was able to hole long putts on the par three, and then the 17^th before just holding on down the last,” Lindblad said.

Swedish teammate and current World Amateur Golf No. 1 Kinhult also posted a bogey-free round with her father and coach, Mikael, on the bag.

Heading down the par four 18^th unsure whether four-under would be enough to avoid a play-off, Kinhult took matters in to her own hands, firing a nine-iron to within four feet and rolling in the birdie putt.

Scotland’s Kylie Henry, Jacqui Concolino and Noora Komulainen all qualified with 68s, leaving nine players to fight it out in a sudden-death play-off for the final three spots.

Frenchwoman Valentine Derrey made a birdie at the first extra hole to ease through, while Agathe Sauzon, also from France, and American Whitney Hillier showed nerves of steel to make it through at the fifth time of asking.

Woburn has hosted the championship on 10 occasions, the first nine of which were played on the Duke’s Course, while the 2016 Women’s British Open was played on the Marquess to great acclaim from the 144-strong field of world-class players.

•Forming part of the Duke of Bedford’s estate, Woburn Golf Club is one of the UK’s premier golf facilities, boasting three world-class championship golf courses and has held many European Tour and Senior Tour events as well as Final Qualifying for The Open.

The Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies Golf Union in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company, since 1984.

The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001. The championship is now owned by The R&A.

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Left to right: Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, AIG Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, at Woburn Golf Club, last month. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THE 2019 AIG Women’s British Open is set to welcome a star-studded field to Woburn next month, with every player from the current top 30 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings confirmed.

The AIG Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and this year will held on Woburn’s magnificent Marquess’ course from August 1-4.

Nine of the past 10 champions are confirmed to compete, including Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, who won when the championship was last at Woburn in 2016, Dorset’s defending champion Georgia Hall, and European Solheim Cup Captain Catriona Matthew, who celebrates the 10^th anniversary of her memorable victory at Royal Lytham and St Annes, this year.

In a truly global field, 129 players from 25 countries are already confirmed, with Pre-Qualifying and Final Qualifying still to take place later this month at Sandy Lodge Golf Club and Ashridge Golf Club, in Hetfordshire, respectively.

They will contest the newly-increased prize fund, announced last week as $4.5 million – some 40 per cent more than last year, which is part of The R&A’s commitment to growing the championship and supporting women’s golf.

Last year, Hall thrilled the home crowds and viewers around the world with her two-stroke victory.

Last year’s runner-up, Pornanong Phatlum, from Thailand, along with England favourites Charley Hull, Bronte Law, Melissa Reid and Charlotte Thomas, will be in the field, which includes an impressive list of past champions, notably In-Kyung Kim (2017), Stacy Lewis (2013), Mo Martin (2014) and Inbee Park (2015).

The Solheim Cup, taking place at Gleneagles in September, will provide an intriguing sub-plot to the event, with Team Europe confirmed a week after the champion is crowned at Woburn – Team USA’s final selections will be announced on August 26.

Four American players have already sealed their qualification with room to spare, and all of them – sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang – will be teeing up at Woburn with a little less pressure on their shoulders as they vie to add the final major of 2019 to their CV.

Major-winning prowess will be in strong supply at the Bedfordshire venue, with 48 titles won by 27 different players.

Of those, the most recent are Koreans Jin-young Ko and Jeong-eun Lee6 and Australian Hannah Green – this year’s winners – and all have confirmed their attendance at Woburn.

Forming part of the Duke of Bedford’s estate, Woburn is one of the UK’s premier golf facilities, boasting three world-class championship courses and has held many European Tour and Senior Tour events as well as Final Qualifying for The Open.

•The AIG Women’s British Open is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company, since 1984.

The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001. The championship is now owned by The R&A.

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Bryson DeChambeau matched the fireworks of last year’s US Open and PGA Champion Brooks Koepka by firing a superb 66 to lead the Masters at Augusta after the first round . Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

BRYSON DeChambeau produced an incredible finish, posting four closing birdies to share the lead with Brooks Koepka at six-under par the end of day one at the Masters.

A remarkable run of scoring in the late groups stretched the field at Augusta National Golf Club, with DeChambeau amongst a host of European Tour players in the mix going into Friday at the first Major Championship of the year.

South African debutant Justin Harding was one of the players who had set the target at three-under early in the day.

And for a long time it looked like there would be a highly congested leaderboard as a nine-way tie for the lead developed.

But four birdies in a row from the 12th hole from Koepka moved the three-time Major champion to six-under and into a two-shot lead.

DeChambeau’s incredible finish saw him catch his fellow American, thanks in part to a wonderful second shot on the 18^th where he was only denied an eagle by the pin flag.

The player, known as “The Mad Scientist” for his quirky mathematical approach to golf, signed for a 66  – his best round at Augusta National.

Meanwhile Koepka, playing behind his rival who has won five times since last June, parred his way home to record the only bogey-free round of the day and share top spot.

The winner of the Dubai Desert Classic – the same route to the Green Jacket taken by Sergio Garcia in 2017 and Danny Willett in 2016 – said “It’s my best round out here, a 66.

“I was just looking to shoot something in the 60s this week because I haven’t done that yet in my couple times playing here.

“What a magical back nine.  Wind started to pick up, right around Amen Corner, and it was tough.  It was not easy one bit.” Bryson added.

“But we just stuck to what we knew we should have done, and we did, and was able to execute a beautiful nine-iron on 12 that kind of jump started my back nine, hitting it to five feet, making that putt got me rolling.

“I should have pulled the flagstick out (on the 18^th). But no, it was a great shot, and I was excited just to tap‑in to finish off a great round.”

Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson birdied five of his last seven holes to sit one shot off the lead at five-under, a shot clear of fellow American Dustin Johnson and Woburn’s Ian Poulter.

The honorary member at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club where he started life in the pro shop, said: “I’m very happy with today’s work. It’s a great start to a long week.

“The weather is going to be interesting over the next three days with the thunderstorms coming in,” said Poulter.

“The course dried out nicely today.  A couple of greens may have been a touch slower than what we’ve previously had in the past on a Thursday.

“But I’m happy with that and feel pretty good about it. My whole game was together, from the first hole to the 18th hole.

“I mean I only missed two greens in regulation, I think.  One of them was nine.  I made bogey there.

“And the other green I missed I was kind of 12 feet from the pin and just on the fringe.  So really my putting all around today was extremely solid. I need to do that over the next few days.”

Harding – who has won five times worldwide in the last year, including his maiden European Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters – is joined at three-under par by Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kevin Kisner of the United States, Australian Adam Scott and Spain’s Jon Rahm.

South African Harding, who played a practice round with 2011 Green Jacket winner Charl Schwartzel earlier in the week, said: “I was happy with it, I handled my emotions pretty well, a bit annoying on the last making bogey.  But at the end of the day I’ll take it.

“Golf is purely momentum based.  If you take enough confidence into the rounds then you’re bound to play well.

“You just pretty much need to get out of your own way. I’ll take it and run if I can – we’re not allowed to run here at Augusta – but I’m pleased.

“It’s one of those where I gave myself a couple chances, I didn’t feel like I took great advantage of the par fives.

“I managed to hit a wedge close in on 16 but other than that it was one of those where you just kind of sneak in a birdie here or there where you can.

“I managed to hit a couple of fairways.  I’m still learning and this golf course is difficult.”

Rahm, who finished fourth last year and has since made his debut for Europe in the Ryder Cup thrashing handed out to the Americans in Paris last year, has made a great start to 2019 with five top 10s in eight starts.

The Spaniard said: “I think that the most important thing is I never lost patience.

“I was one over par on the par fives going to the back nine where it’s easy to get a little frustrated and I didn’t.

“I kept my cool and I was able to make a great birdie on nine and get where I’m going.

“It’s tough out there, they made a few changes to the golf course, they put some tough pins early in the day already, the greens started getting progressively firmer, so just being able to make a couple good putts and shoot under par is a good round.”

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, who is also making his debut at Augusta – having reached the last four of the WGC World Match Play in Texas two weeks ago – and The Open champion Francesco Molinari are among a group of 10 players at two-under.

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