At the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, they encountered low 60s temperatures, rain, wind, and a monster of a Blue Course.
In the morning wave of the women's third major of the year, no one else shot better than 71, despite In Gee Chun's 8-under 64 in Round 1. Those who shot 1-under included Korda and Henderson, while Park managed an even-par 72.
Despite being in awe of what Chun had accomplished, Korda and Henderson were happy to be under par on a difficult day on a "Long" course. It was undoubtedly very, very long. Particularly for me," Korda remarked. "I am one of the tour's lengthier hitters. It took a while.
The Blue Course is 6,894 yards long, according to the scorecard. That's a bit longer than this week's PGA Tour course, TPC River Highlands, as mentioned on the Golf Channel broadcast (though the Travelers venue is a par 70). Congressional is still lengthy, as Korda reiterated, and was made even longer by the Thursday circumstances.
"The weather we played in was terrible, especially the front nine. Oh my goodness, I had a driver, hybrid, and 7-wood onto the green on [No.] 9. The ninth hole, recorded at 585 yards, is the longest par-five that Korda has ever played.
Many people agreed with her comments.
The 2016 KPMG champion Henderson remarked, "Coming up No. 9, that was the longest par 5 I've ever played in my life." I rarely have to do that, but on my third stroke, I hit the hybrid in.
Added Hannah Green, a 2019 victor who started at position 71: "I had to hit a 5-wood in for my third shot on the ninth hole. I made a few hybrid shots into par 4s and par 3s.
Green said that a few years ago, she wouldn't have been able to break par on a day like this, but she has worked on lengthening her game. Although Park, who won this competition three years in a row (2013–15), could not shoot in the red, finishing at even was a success.
With the 3-wood on her second shot, Inbee didn't even reach the green at [No.] 4, which is a par 4, according to Korda.
"With the wind and the rain, it played for a very long time in the morning."
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