Hazeltine blitzes to lead PGA

Western Australian Hannah Green has blown up the field at Hazeltine Golf Club in a brutal opening round of the KPMG Women's & PGA Championship 2019.

The 22-year-old overcame sustained rain and strong winds – and lack of equipment for wet weather – and despite finding only six fairways and nine greens in regulation, Green sleeps on a one-shot lead in Minneapolis after opening 4-under 68.

"I didn't have rain pants. That was difficult. I only brought one jacket and I was ice cold. My caddy and I were both really not prepared for the rain," Green told media after her round.

"Fortunately my friend [Jarryd Felton] could run home and put on a jacket for me, which certainly helped. I think we will invest in rain pants!"

After starting on the 10th, Green made birdies on 11 and 16 before picking up another eight-foot putt on the par-5 3rd.

But the highlight of the day came from a greenside fall on the par-5 7th, Green splattered and found the bottom of the cup for a fourth bird of the day.

"Once it landed on the green, I knew there was a chance it would collapse," Green said.

"I think I was very lucky today with putts going in and getting good bounces. That was one of them."

Much has been made of Hazeltine & # 39; s length in the run-up to today's first round, but Green was great at birding three of Hazeltine & # 39; s four par-5 & # 39; s.

Only Green, Shanshan Feng and Moriya Jutanugarn took bogey-free rounds on Thursday.

"I don't think I ever had a putt-in-putt for my par-putts when I missed the green," said Green.

"Almost every hole was a 6-footer and I made them all."

The World No.114 leads Korean Hyo Joo Kim and 2017 ISPS Handa Vic Open champion Mel Reid with a group of players including Ariya Jutanugarn, Amy Yang and World No.4 Sung Hyun Park at 2 -below.

Minjee Lee is the second best Australian by 18 holes after World No.3 has massaged a 2-over-74.

Also starting on the 10th, Lee plummeted to 4-over for the round following back-to-back bogeys on the 4th and 5th holes.

But the Western Australian reacted brilliantly and rattled birds around seven and eight to stay within six of leader and close friend Green.

After a second place on the LPGA Tour last week, Su Oh also returned a 74, although the Victorian day was a bit more colorful.

Oh opened with a double bogey and recorded another six on a par-4 on the 10th.

But four birdies during the day and an eagle on the par-5 15th refuted four other bogeys, Oh still hunting for the second round of tomorrow.

Katherine Kirk (78), Karrie Webb (79), Sarah Kemp (79) and Wendy Doolan (86) all struggled on the first day and will have to produce something special to make the weekend.

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The biggest drama of the day came when American Michelle Wie left the track after an opening 84 and questioned her future in the game

Who made her back this week after a two-month layoff against a crippling wrist injury.

The five-time winner of the LPGA Tour saw her wrist cover all day and was in tears after he signed her card.

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During the PGA Tour, former Travelers champion Marc Leishman resumed his love affair with the TPC River Highlands, opening with a 4-under-66 to become two shots.

Matt Jones is the second best Australian in a share of the 61st after a Thursday 1-under-69.

Countrymen Curtis Luck, Jason Day, Aaron Baddeley and Cam Davis all returned even-par-years & # 39; 70 to flirt with the cut in the direction of tomorrow.

Queenslander Cam Smith is one stroke further back after a 71 and fellow Maroon Rod Pampling has work to do on Friday after recording a 2-over-72.

A package of six players, including reigning #AusOpen champion Abraham Ancer, shares the lead at 6-under.