[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Minjee Lee mounted an inspiring late comeback to be in the mix after the first round of the Olympic women’s golf tournament in Paris.
The two-time major winner Lee was three-over-par through 12 holes and was on a collision course to shoot herself out of contention at the no-cut tournament.
“I didn’t really hit it close enough to really make that many birdies on the front nine; I was missing some fairways and if you’re in the rough, it’s a little more penalising to get them on the greens and really hit it close,” Lee said after her round.
But the two-time major winner stormed home with four birdies in her last five holes to ensure she maintains a chance at Australia’s first gold medal in golf at the games. Lee is the only Australian – man or woman – to have played all three Olympics since golf returned as an even in 2016 following a 112-year absence. She reminded herself of the stage midway through the back nine and scrapped for a 71 to sit one-under and six shots behind the leader, France’s Celine Boutier.
“I just really gave myself a bit of a nudge and thought I had to make a few birdies coming in because I just didn’t want to be over par. So four birdies in the last five, so I’m happy with the finish,” Lee said.
Lee was the group in front of major champion, Boutier, who was serenaded like the French favourite she was while she lit up Le Golf National’s Albatros course with a seven-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead in the first round. The national anthem was sung loudly to Boutier in emotional scenes on the first tee.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai shot 68 to sit second, two ahead of a pack of four golfers at two-under 70 that includes Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux, Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, and the USA’s Lilia Vu.
“I mean, the crowds were so amazing out there today,” Lee said. “I was playing in front of Celine, they were literally chanting her name like most of the holes. So like a lot of “Celine” chanting and clapping. The energy was really amazing. And they all have been really supportive of all the players, I think. It’s quite nice to have that kind of experience after the inaugural in Rio, and obviously Tokyo was COVID edition. So it’s a little bit different every single time I’ve played the Olympics, really.”
Lee’s fellow West Australian and teammate in Tokyo in 2021, Hannah Green, struggled to a five-over 77.
“Just finding it tricky to read the greens; [and I had] three water balls and was over par in total on the par 5s, [which were] pretty reachable and not too difficult to make birdies,” Green said. “That was pretty deflating probably last nine holes, I would say. Just going to have to go shake it off I guess. I just have to be not so down on myself I think because obviously I do believe that I can win a GoldMedal. I think I’m putting a bit more pressure on myselfjust because it’s the Olympics.”
Lee begins her second round at Thursday 5.44pm AEST while Green is off at 7.44pm AEST.
