Narin An caught fire with her putter on a windy Thursday in Naples, shooting an impressive 8-under 64 to take the lead at the CME Group Tour Championship.
The stakes couldn’t be higher at Tiburon Golf Club, where the winner will take home the biggest single-day paycheck in women’s golf history.
It wasn’t such a great day for Nelly Korda, who’s been dominating the tour with seven wins this season. She struggled to a 72, leaving her eight shots behind and with plenty of work to do.
“Today my putt really good,” said An, the 28-year-old South Korean who’s still looking for her first LPGA win. “The speed was good and the shape was good. I just try to focus a little bit more.”
Angel Yin sits just one shot back after carding a 65, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 17th.
Despite the tricky Gulf Coast winds, the scoring was surprisingly low. Twenty-seven players managed to break 70 in the opening round.
“It’s a good head start for the big ol’ prize we get at the end of the week,” Yin said.
Allisen Corpuz and Marina Alex posted solid 66s, while Lydia Ko headlines a group at 67.
The tournament’s winner will make history in more ways than one. They’ll break Lorena Ochoa’s 17-year-old season earnings record of $4,364,994 – set back when prize money was about half of what it is today.
Ko, fresh off clinching an Olympic gold medal that earned her a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame, kept her momentum going on a course where she won just two years ago.
“The course isn’t easy,” Ko said. “I set a goal of shooting 3 under today, and somebody shot 8 under. I was like, ‘OK, maybe I need to make a few more birdies.'”
Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela, riding high after her first Solheim Cup appearance this year, also shot 67. She’s trying to stay focused on her game rather than the massive payday awaiting Sunday’s winner.
“I think everyone is looking at that $4 million price tag,” Valenzuela said. “It’s the last week of the year. It’s kind of the bonus week. No matter what, everyone is having a paycheck.”
