LPGA ANA Inspiration 2015: Leaderboard Analysis and Highlights from Thursday
The LPGA's first major teed off on Thursday at the ANA Inspiration.
On the strength of a closing birdie, 2007 event champion Morgan Pressel rose to the top of the leaderboard with a five-under 67 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
| 1 | Morgan Pressel | 67 | -5 |
| 2 | Ai Miyazato | 68 | -4 |
| T3 | Juli Inkster | 69 | -3 |
| T3 | Gwladys Nocera | 69 | -3 |
| T3 | Alison Walshe | 69 | -3 |
| T3 | So Yeon Ryu | 69 | -3 |
| T7 | Na Yeon Choi | 70 | -2 |
| T7 | Austin Ernst | 70 | -2 |
| T7 | Charley Hull | 70 | -2 |
| T10 | Lydia Ko | 71 | -1 |
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Pressel is a former teenage prodigy turned wily veteran at the age of 26, and she's proven capable of getting it done on this stage before. She leads Ai Miyazato by one stroke entering the second round.
Kelly Tilghman of Golf Channel did a nice job summarizing the major storylines emerging from the opening day of action:
Indeed, the brightest young LPGA star came to play on Thursday as well. World No. 1 Lydia Ko had a bit of an up-and-down round with five birdies to four bogeys, but sits just four shots off the pace after a 71.
ESPN.com's Jason Sobel explained the significance behind Ko's round:
Annika Sorenstam reached out to Ko to congratulate her on such an impressive feat:
The Associated Press' Doug Ferguson cited Pressel as an example of why he isn't too surprised by what Ko is doing at age 17:
There's no way to leave out the amazing form LPGA legend Juli Inkster continues to show either.
The seven-time major champion is still competing with the world's best as her 55th birthday approaches in June, surging to the finish for a first-round score of 69 to be just two shots off Pressel.
Inkster averaged nearly 250 yards off the tee in the opening round, proving she can still crank it out there—and did so with precision in finding 11 of 14 fairways. Birdies on three of her final 10 holes allowed Inkster to close in style.
An eagle at the par-five 11th was a huge boost to Miyazato's round, which featured just one bogey as she capitalized on the par fives, playing those holes in four under par.
Charley Hull, who won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in 2014 and is just 19 years old, headlines the cluster of golfers at two under par. She birdied the first two holes and then finished well with a birdie at the par-five 18th hole.
Defending champion Lexi Thompson, all of 20 years old herself, waged a memorable battle with Stacy Lewis and Michelle Wie to break through last year.
Both Thompson and Lewis opened with level-par rounds of 72, while Wie was a shot further back at one-over.
Golf Channel's Randall Mell noticed the advantage Thompson has on Ko off the tee:
A disappointing double bogey at the 18th marred what could have been a decent score for Wie despite hitting just 11 of 18 greens in regulation.
As is evident by the number of big names within striking distance, Pressel has her work cut out to hold on to such a slim lead. Ko is still seeking to establish herself as the game's premier force, while the likes of Thompson and Wie seek to carry over the momentum from 2014 major triumphs.
Adding another major would be just another feather in Inkster's cap—no less in an era when the LPGA is burgeoning with young talent.
Whatever happens over the next 54 holes promises to be exciting. If Ko can come back and cut down on the mistakes, she may well be on her way to a maiden major title.
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