Golf: Choi, controversy steal spotlight
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — There's no denying this is the biggest week in women's golf — full of good news and bad.
The game's top-ranked player, a former champion and a developmental tour qualifier are one stroke behind a talented second-year LPGA player at the U.S. Women's Open, on a course that doesn't yield birdies easily.
All the while, controversy is swirling around the women's tour amid reports Thursday that LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens could be out of her job as early as next week after a faction of key players signed a letter calling for her resignation.
Despite the theatrics, it has the makings of a developing drama on the golf course as well, with the game's top players off to hot starts and a 14-year-old amateur trying to make her first cut in her third Open.
Leader Na Yeon Choi birdied her first three holes, and four of her first five, making the tough Saucon Valley Country Club course look tame with an opening round 3-under 68.
"I know it's a difficult course, but I was really excited to start my round and I thought it was going to be a very, very interesting week for me," the South Korean said through an interpreter.
It could get quite interesting considering the players chasing the 21-year-old.
No. 1-ranked Lorena Ochoa, 2007 champion Cristie Kerr and qualifier Jean Reynolds opened with 2-under 69s, and Hee Young Park, also of South Korea, was another stroke back after a 70.
"Patience is the No. 1 thing you have to have this week," Ochoa said.
But major news about the LPGA and its players keeps intruding on the championship. Just as Choi was completing her round, Golf Digest and Golfweek Magazine, citing sources, reported on their Web sites that Bivens' four-year tenure with the tour is coming to an end.
The move comes after a call for her resignation by key players, who wrote to the LPGA board asking Bivens to step down.
Easily overlooked in the fallout of the LPGA brouhaha were solid rounds by Choi, the runner-up for rookie of the year in 2008, Ochoa, who is seeking her first Women's Open title, and Kerr, aiming for her second championship crown.
Birdies were tough to come by for nearly everyone but Choi, who has won four times in international events. Playing in her second Open, she made Saucon Valley's narrow fairways seem wide and handled its speedy, undulating greens. Choi relied on accurate approach shots throughout and reached 5-under by her 12th hole, before backing up just a bit. Starting on the back nine, she had consecutive bogeys on the 409-yard, par-4 fifth, and 559-yard, par-5 sixth before closing with three pars.
PGA TOUR: At Silvis, Ill., Lee Janzen stirred some memories and was tied with Darron Stiles for the lead after firing a 7-under 64 in the first round of the John Deere Classic.
Janzen has not won on the PGA Tour since he captured his second U.S. Open in 1998, yet he's in position after an impressive start at TPC Deere Run. The 44-year-old was 8 under after birdies on the 16th and 17th holes and played bogey-free golf until the 18th, when he hit a bunker and missed an 8-foot par putt. He was off the course by the time Stiles sunk a seven-foot putt for birdie on the same hole to forge the tie.
Kenny Perry opened with a 68. U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover shot 69.
Comments
- Private schools in Pakistan 9:00 p.m.
- 'Muslim terrorists' on memorial? 8:59 p.m.
- Ship of World Trade Center steel 8:58 p.m.
- Cougars come up short of title 8:54 p.m.
- West Africa's last giraffes 8:52 p.m.
- Water wars in Snake Valley 8:51 p.m.
- 4A volleyball: Dons finish 3rd 8:42 p.m.
- 4A volleyball: Olympus 6th 8:33 p.m.
- Negotiator's role in Snake Valley 8:31 p.m.
- BYU 186, Wyoming 17? 8:30 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
206 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Letters: Care not a right
188 - Lobo suspended
170 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Jazz stumble in fourth quarter
106 - Prep football: San Juan vs. S. Sevier
102 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Hall, Cougars crush Cowboys
99 - Thousands protest health bill
98
It's almost tip time at the Spectrum as Utah State prepares to take on...
I'm excited for the Saints in Sapporo! What a wonderful blessing that these...
Is is easy for MC Fan to throw challenges over the wall that he knows he will...
Wasatch is in the top 5 of 3A football, just check DN, SLTrib, or KSL. They...
Japan makes everyone have PRIVATE non-profit insurance. Most families pay...
You might want to look into Al Gores environmental civil disobedient...
Please Cougar fans, tell us ALL about what BCS teams look like since you have...
I'm stoked for the game next week! Here's to the Utes playing their best. I...
Okay let me get this straight... Riverton almost beat PG and was up at the...
In this case it means they are a team capable of competing and winning even...
What the heck?



You can be the first to comment on this story.