GULLANE, Scotland - Tiffany Joh credited her ''hot putter’’ as she shot a career-best 9-under 62 at the Ladies Scottish Open to take a four-shot lead after Thursday’s first round.
''I pretty much kept it in play and putted amazing, that’s the only way I could describe it today,’' said the 31-year-old American, who opened and finished her round with birdies.
In-Kyung Kim, Amy Yang and Jenny Shin all shot 66 to share a three-way South Korean tie for second place at Gullane Golf Club.
Full-field scores from the ASI Ladies Scottish Open
Seven-time LPGA winner Kim called it ''a tough course but I think it suits my game.’'
Joh has yet to win in a decade on the LPGA Tour and her best finish in a major is joint-16th at the 2014 ANA Inspiration but she made the most of the hard, fast-running course to gain a significant advantage.
Six birdies in eight holes either side of the turn, added to two back-to-back from the start, catapulted her to the top of the leaderboard and she finished in style by picking up another shot at the 389-yard par four.
Brandon Stone shot a course-record 60 earlier this month on the links in the final round to win the men’s Scottish Open, although the women’s event is playing 650 yards shorter.