So Yeon Ryu admits she was rattled by home crowd pressure at Incheon
South Korean So Yeon Ryu, who shot a 66 in the first round of LPGA Hana Bank Championship 2012, has admitted that the crowd pressure was enormous on Friday as she wanted to do her best in
front of the local spectators.
Speaking to the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) at the end of the opening round on Friday, Ryu said that posting a 66 has been lucky and she thinks she can keep the momentum high
in the next two rounds, but being a South Korean means she must go to great lengths in order to amaze the local crowd.
Ryu started the three-day tournament with heaps of enthusiasm as her biggest concern was to put as much distance between her and rivals as she could—and she managed to score well.
She rattled off seven birdies, but also had to deal with a bogey on the par-4 fourth hole.
Explaining what caused trouble when she finally set the ball rolling on the greens, Ryu said that some of the holes were tricky and she found it hard to hold her nerve, but thanks to a rigours
practice she had here before the tournament, she remained in contention till the final moments of the round.
“Today when I was just arriving at the putting green, the practice putting green, my leg was shaking, like I was nervous because this is the only LPGA tournament in Korea, so I'm in front
of the Korean fans. Maybe that was really ‑‑ how can I say? It was really tough for me,” Ryu said.
She said that her ball striking was not bad, but she could not deliver the best strokes she is known for.
“So when I started the first hole, I was pretty worried about today's round because I felt like my mind was so busy, I couldn't concentrate on my ball,” said the 22-year-old who has already
racked up an LPGA title in the current season as she grabbed a 7-stroke victory against American Angela Stanford at the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic 2012.
She went on to say that despite fumbling on the fourth hole that gave her a bogey, she quickly regained her confidence after a birdie binge.
“And the second hole, I just made a tap‑in birdie and then I'm relieved”.
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