Matthew happy after flawless US Open start

Published on Friday 27 June 2008 11:18

NORTH BERWICK'S Catriona Matthew was a real class act with a flawless opening round of three-under-par 70 in the US Women's Open at Interlachen Country Club in Minnesota, writes ELSPETH BURNSIDE.

The Scottish No.1 finished just three shots behind the surprise leader, South Korean 19-year-old Ji Young Oh, and was alongside England's Laura Davies, who won the title back in 1987.

"I played really well," said Matthew, who has had 11 career top tens in majors. "I only missed two greens, and then I holed a few good eight-to-ten-footers, which is what you have to do in the US Open. Overall, I am really happy.

"It's a very tough course and I reckon anything around about even par won't be too far away come Sunday night. I think the course will get more difficult as the week goes on."

Starting at the tenth, Matthew holed from 15 feet for a three at the par four 11th, chipped and putted for birdie at the long 18th and completed the birdie hat-trick with her longest putt of the day from 20 feet at the third.

But it wasn't such a good start for Glasgow's Janice Moodie, the only other Scot in the 156-strong field. She birdied the long 18th, but it still added up to 78.

Davies, the four-time major winner, turned the clock back with a round of five birdies and two bogeys. The highlight was holing a putt from off the green at her first.

Lorena Ochoa, the world No.1 and a six-time winner this season, opened with a quiet level-par 73. She was three over after 12 holes and did well to come back with birdies at the 14th, 16th and 18th.

Any hopes that Michelle Wie had of making a comeback to form disappeared with a quintuple bogey nine at the par four ninth en route to an eight-over-par 81.