Ladies Scottish Open: Azahara Munoz bounces back from Ohio disqualification

Spaniard shoots first-round 68 to ease pain of scorecard error in USA

Azahara Munoz in action at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. Picture: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Brain farts. We all have them and some more than most. They often don’t prove costly, but not always. Just ask Azahara Munoz. The Spaniard missed out on a pay-day last weekend after failing to sign her scorecard, admitting as soon as she realised that it “hurt pretty badly”.

In sport, of course, it’s about getting back on the horse as soon as possible and not making the same mistake again. Helped by holing a 7-iron from the fairway for an eagle-2 at the first, Munoz did a pretty good job in that respect as she signed for a three-under 68 in the first round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.

“I had a total brain fart,” admitted the four-time Solheim Cup player of her disqualification on Sunday in the final round of the Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio after her rookie scorecard error. “Now I’m laughing, but I did beat myself up a lot because I just can’t believe I did it. It’s the first thing I always do. My husband was there, he said, ‘it doesn’t matter, it’s not going to change our life’. It’s better that it happened last week than next week [in the Women’s Open at Troon]. It won’t happen again.”

Due to Covid-19 protocols, the scoring system at this week’s event at The Renaissance Club is different to what LPGA players are used to. Scorecards are not being exchanged at the end of the round, players sign their own scorecard, which is then also signed by a tournament official as a marker.

“It’s different, but I think it’s very safe,” added Munoz as she joined a chorus of praise for the safety steps that have been put in place by the LET and LPGA in collaboration with the event’s partners. “In Scotland, they are being very safe here and that’s why they are doing so good. They barely have any cases and they want to keep it that way. I think we have to be thankful that we are allowed in the country, and if that’s what we need to do, it’s what we need to do.”

Playing in the same group as Gemma Dryburgh, Munoz was delighted to kickstart her first competitive round at this week’s venue by holing out from 148 yards at the first. “I knew I hit a really good shot,” said the five-time LET and one-time LPGA Tour winner. “Gemma had hit it really close, too. She was maybe three feet away, so I thought that was my shot. Then I looked into the hole and I got a nice surprise, so that was really nice to start the day like that. I played really well all day. I hit pretty much every fairway, every green.”

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