Laura Davies withdraws from AIG Women's Open as Ally Ewing hits front in R1
Dame Laura Davies WDs from AIG Women's Open after playing her first six holes in 9-over par.
English golf legend Dame Laura Davies withdrew from the AIG Women's Open after playing the first six holes in 9-over par in the first round of the ladies final major of the season at Walton Heath.
Davies, 59, admitted at the start of the week in an interview with the LPGA Tour "this week might be my last one [AIG Women's Open]."
Dame Laura Davies arrives on the 1st tee for her 43rd (!) consecutive @AIGWomensOpen appearance #RaiseOurGame | #AIGWO pic.twitter.com/gg6RHpfq9T
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 10, 2023
The 20-time LPGA Tour winner was making her 43rd consecutive appearance in the championship.
Davies won it at Royal Birkdale in 1986.
But that was unfortunately before the tournament was co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour and recognised as a major championship.
If this was to be Davies' final appearance at the AIG Women's Open, which saw the brand extend its partnership through 2030 this week, then it will be an incredibly sad way for her to bow out.
Davies, who now spends the majority of her time working as a commentator and analyst for Sky Sports Golf, opened her round this afternoon with three straight bogeys.
She then doubled the 4th, bogeyed the 5th and then tripled the par-5 6th.
That was to be her final hole before she let her playing partners Sarah Schmelzel and amateur Chiara Horder continue without her in the first round.
Elsewhere in the star morning three-ball of the day, England's home-favourite Charley Hull endured a rollercoaster round of 71.
She went out in level-par before racing to the top of the board with consecutive birdies at 11 and 12.
Unfortunately Hull would hand those birdies back with a double at 12 and she would lose another shot at 13.
But Hull, who finished runner-up at the US Women's Open last month, made up for the double bogey with a stunning eagle-three on the par-5 16th.
Eagle time for @HullCharley! #RaiseOurGame | #AIGWO pic.twitter.com/PnmgbfKMXc
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 10, 2023
That put her back into the red for the day with a solid 1-under 71.
That sees Hull positioned nicely just outside the top 10 as it stands and just two strokes off the pace.
Hull's playing partners in World No.1 Nelly Korda and World No.3 Lydia Ko failed to fire with rounds of 1-over 73 and 2-over 74 respectively.
In-form Celine Boutier, who is bidding to win a third straight tournament on Tour, matched Ko's round of 74.
At the top of the leaderboard as it stands in round one Ally Ewing leads the way on 4-under par.
Ewing surged to the front with an eagle on the 16th.
A host of players are lurking behind including one of the pre-tournament favourites in Hyo Joo Kim at 2-under par.
