PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Melanie Green experienced the surprise of her life with a hole-in-one she didn’t even know she had. After the opening round of the Riviera Maya Open in Mayakoba, she shot a 6-under 66 to share the lead with Briana Do.
Nelly Korda showed no signs of slowing down. She started with a 68, just four days after winning her first major of the year, even though a windy afternoon made El Camaleon’s fairways look even tighter.
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Green hit a 7-iron on the day’s sixth hole, the par-3 15th, but it fell about 20 feet short of the hole and rolled into the cup. The announcer was also excited because he could see it. Green, a first-year LPGA player, didn’t do that.
“I thought, ‘Okay, great shot. Phenomenal.'” Grab the putter — Usually when you hit the green, grab the putter, it’s a cool effect. ”Then we walk up and look at the greenery. I don’t have the ball,” Green said.
She was momentarily embarrassed as she handed her putter to her caddy and had to hold the wedge to chip. Her caddy repaired the pitch mark and glanced at the hole to see that her golf ball had been marked with a cross.
She thought he was joking.
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“I walked up there and all I saw was a cross. I was so excited,” Green said. “Oh, I thought it went all the way to the left. But I don’t care. It’s a nice bounce.”
And it was a great start. In addition to the hole-in-one, Green made five birdies and finished 30th. Although he fell behind with a bogey on the final hole, he had little complaints.
Dou first went out in the afternoon before the wind really picked up and opened the day with four birdies in five holes. She also dropped a shot on the ninth, but then played the back nine bogey-free and joined the green with three birdies.
Do said it was windy during qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open a few weeks ago, and she was preparing for winds coming off the Gulf of Mexico.
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“For some reason, I think playing in the wind helps you just play golf instead of making a golf swing,” Doe said.
Korda returned to No. 1 in the women’s world rankings at the Chevron Championship, leading the final 57 holes with a dominant performance and winning by five.
She remains committed to Mayakoba and is the only player in the world to be in the top 10. Korda also started on the back nine, turning with a 7-iron and hitting it 15 feet to the right of the cup for an eagle.
She hit just one bogey and was happy with her start to play despite the brunt of the wind. All of her scores came on par 5s, with three birdies and an eagle.
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“The fairways are really tight,” Korda said. “When the wind is this strong, it’s difficult to set up, so make sure you hit the drive well.”
Carlota Ciganda played the par 5s at even par and still shot a 67. Korda followed with 68 and was joined by a group of players including Japan’s Gabby Lopez and Erika Hara.
