ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Stacy Lewis didn’t feel as if she were on foreign soil playing the Old Course Thursday in the first round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open.
She felt comfortably at home posting a 5-under-par 67 to jump into the hunt early.
“I love this course,” Lewis said. “I loved it when I played the Curtis Cup here. I feel so comfortable here that it’s a much different feeling to any other British Open I’ve ever played, just because I know this course.”
Lewis, the Rolex world No. 2, helped the Americans defeat Great Britain & Ireland in the ’08 Curtis Cup on the Old Course. Lewis was undefeated, going 2-0-1.
Lewis is among a strong American contingent off to fast starts at St. Andrews. Morgan Pressel opened with a 66 on Thursday and Nicole Castrale with a 67. Just one American has won the Women’s British Open over the last 12 years, Sherri Steinhauer in ’06.
After making birdie at the first, Lewis found the going sluggish, unable to convert birdie chances, but she heated up on the back nine, making five birdies over the last eight holes.
“This tournament has been on my radar since they announced it,” Lewis said.
In four starts at the Women’s British Open, Lewis’ best finish was a tie for eighth last year at Royal Liverpool.