US Women’s Open – Is CordeValle Too Easy?

The 71st US Women’s Open field has had its first taste of CordeValle.

Mirim Lee glided through the track and made it all look like a walk in the park with an 8-under par 64. Cristie Kerr was right behind her, matching her shot-for-shot through much of Thursday, but at the end falling back to 5-under par 67 to share the second slot on the board with Minjee Lee and Amy Yang.

 
With ten players posting 1st round scores in the 60s and 37 set to start their second round in red numbers, Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, among others, is lamenting that CordeValle isn’t playing like a US Women’s Open, or any national championship, for that matter.

“They could have made it more difficult. I mean, there were puddles on the fairway this morning, so they’re just pouring water onto it — and I don’t understand why.”

To be sure, there were some spectacular shots –

A quick look at a few of the top #USWomensOpen shots from today at CordeValle.https://t.co/Onj8H1OSAU

— USGA (@USGA) July 8, 2016

Too many birdies? Not enough bogeys? Greens too receptive? Such interesting questions.

Anna Nordqvist may have hit every fairway on her way to her 4-under 1st round 68 and Kim Kaufman may have signed a bogey-free 1st round card for a 3-over par 75, but the average first round score at CordeValle was 74.34.

The low scores came in the morning. As CordeValle dried out the scores went up on Thursday afternoon. Let’s not hit the panic button and start fretting about a watered-down Championship. Let’s sit back and see how Cut Day unfolds. With a +1 projected cut line – which is certain to change – the Championship is just about where I’d expect it to be after 18 holes.

We have 54 more holes to play, with new conditions and new hole locations. CordeValle will bare its teeth.

Cover Image Via Twitter