Morgan Pressel, -6

Melissa Reid, -6

M.J. Hur, -5

Song-Hee Kim, -5

Mika Miyazato, -4

Yani Tseng, -4

Rolex Rankings No. 16 Morgan Pressel, England’s Melissa Reid and South Korea’s Sun Ju Ahn share the lead after the first round at the Evian Masters Presented by Socie?te?? Ge?ne?rale.  Pressel and Reid took advantage of the calmer morning conditions to fire rounds of six-under-par 66.  Pressel birdied the first three holes out of the gate to lead to a bogey-free, front-nine 31.  She added another two birdies and one bogey on the back nine to round out her 66.  Reid’s round included eight birdies and two bogeys.  Ahn, who won the Stanley Ladies on the Japan LPGA last week, played in between the rain drops in the afternoon wave.  Before playing the reachable par-5 18th, Ahn had carded six birdies and two bogeys on the day.  An eagle three on the 477-yard final hole put her in a tie for the first-round lead.

Lucky number “22”.  While hailing from three different countries, the first-round leaders all share one thing in common.  They are all 22-years of age.

Pressel is playing with renewed confidence.  After her round, Pressel called her 2010 season “okay” despite carding four top-10 finishes this year and a win on the Japan LPGA back in May.  She remarked, “Today was really the first day where I felt solid all around pretty much all year, and so that's encouraging to me.”

Pressel attributes her good play, in part, to some increased length off the tee and with her iron shots. “It's been quite encouraging.  I would say that 75% of it has been technique, really changing my technique to be more on top of the ball.  The other 25% is part working out and getting a little bit stronger and part golf clubs.”  Pressel has worked closely with Callaway to get the right fit with her driver and irons.

While Melissa Reid may be a new name for American golf fans, Reid is quickly garnering a reputation on the LET Tour.  The 22-year old from England is playing her third year on the LET.  As a rookie, she finished 12th on the 2008 money list and improved to seventh in 2009.  She captured her first LET victory this season at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and currently sits third on the LET money list.  Reid is ranked No. 77 on the Rolex Rankings.  She faces a strong field which includes 24 of the top-24 in the Rankings. 

Reid is up for the challenge.  After her round, she said of the tournament, “It's a good opportunity to get your world rankings up and a good opportunity to play against the best players in the world, you know, and see how you compare and what you need to work on. My personal opinion is I think you need to play against the best players every single week.  You can only get better if you do that.”

 

The race for Rolex Rankings No. 1 continues this week in France.  Rolex Rankings No. 1 and 2009 Evian Masters Champion Ai Miyazato shot a first-round 69.  Playing alongside No. 2 Cristie Kerr and No. 7 Paula Creamer, Miyazato looks to increase her slim margin over Kerr in the race.  Kerr carded an even-par 72, while Creamer shot one-under-par 71.  No. 3 Suzann Pettersen carded a first-round 69, while No. 4 Jiyai Shin shot 2-under 70.  Pettersen, Kerr and Shin all have a chance to ascend to the number one position this week.  Rolex Rankings scenarios will be available throughout the week.

 

Tseng is “ready to win.”  Rolex Rankings No. 5 Yani Tseng fired a first-round 68 and stands two shots behind the leaders. Tseng has a special tie to the Evian Masters as she wears Lacoste clothing.  “[It] just feels really good to come back here to see all the Lacoste family,” Tseng said after her round.  “I'm really ready to win.  I would love to win this tournament in France.  It will be very special to me.”

 

Pretty in Pink.  Rolex Rankings No. 26 M.J. Hur, not only contributed her 5-under-par 67 to strong driver and iron play, but to the color she chose to wear for the first round.  Citing that her pink outfit was lucky, she said, “I love the pink and white [colors of the Evian Masters], so that's why I match my clothing today because it's first round.  I think I will also match Sunday.”   Hur, playing her second year on the LPGA Tour, is making her first start at the Evian Masters.  She became a Rolex First-Time Winner in 2009 at the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola.

 

Rolex Rankings No. 12 Michelle Wie is off to a solid start.  She fired a first-round 68 in her first event since a missed cut at the U.S. Women’s Open.  Wie withdrew from the official pro-am Wednesday with heatstroke, but negotiated the hilly Evian Masters Golf Club without incident in round one.

 

France’s Gwladys Nocera is waving the French flag after round one.  The LPGA Tour rookie carded a first-round 69.  Nocera, who has won 10 times on the LET, has played in the last five editions of the Evian Masters with two missed cuts.  Her best finish at the event is a tie for 41st in 2006. 

 

Nocera leads the rookie pack as well.  Nocera currently ranks third in the race for the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award behind Azahara Munoz (1st) and Amanda Blumenherst (2nd).  Blumenherst and Munoz carded rounds of 73 and 70 respectively in the first round.

 

Cooler temperatures and overcast skies helped to contribute to the low scores in the first round. Softer green complexes enabled players to attack the pin locations. The 482-yard par-5 ninth played the easiest in round one, yielding 47 birdies, while the 388-yard par-4 10th played the most difficult, averaging 4.297 strokes per player.

The winners of the first annual LPGA Global Media Awards Presented by Rolex will be named Friday night at a special gala event at the Royal Hermitage. 

 

Here are the finalists in each category. 

Player Profile:

Beth Ann Baldry/GolfWeek Magazine: “McPherson finds her comfort zone” (March 30, 2010)

Patricia Davies/golfers&co Magazine: “ai ai ai!” (April 2010)

Ron Sirak/Golf World Magazine: “A Legend Like No Other” (July 6, 2009)

 

Column/Blog:

Doug Ferguson/Associated Press: “At 49, Juli Inkster has passion to play” (August 4, 2009)

Lewine Mair/Global Golf Post: “Jiyai Shin Insisting On a Life” (March 1, 2010)

Randall Mell/GolfChannel.com: “Undying Love” (March 24, 2010)

 

Player Action Photograph:

Stuart Franklin: Lorena Ochoa/Evian Masters

Hunter Martin: Natalie Gulbis/CN Canadian Open

Philippe Millereau: Karine Icher

 

Player Personality / Emotion Photograph:

David Cannon: Marianne Skarpnord/RICOH Women’s British Open

Kevin C. Cox: Michelle Wie/Lorena Ochoa Invitational

Stephen Dunn: Yani Tseng/Kraft Nabisco Championship

 

Golf Course Photograph / LPGA Tour event:

Stephen Dunn: Kia Classic Presented by J Golf

Stuart Franklin: Evian Masters

Frédéric Froger: Evian Masters

 

Photograph of Evian Masters Ambassador of the Year (In-Kyung Kim):

Darren Carroll

Jin Jig Joung

Scott Halleran

 

 

Of note.  Last year’s Evian Masters runner-up Sophie Gustafson shot 72 in the first round…15-year old Alexis Thompson fired a first-round 69…Rolex Rankings No. 6 Na Yeon Choi carded a four-under-par 68. Choi finished runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks ago.

 

 

 

MORGAN PRESSEL, ROLEX RANKINGS, NO. 16

 

 

 

MODERATOR:  We're here with Morgan Pressel.  Congratulations on a first round 66.  Can you talk a little bit about your round today?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Yeah, it was a very solid day.  The only fairway I missed was on the last hole, and it was because it kind of got a weird bounce.  I hit 15 greens.  I felt like I was striking the ball well and gave myself a lot of chances.

 

MODERATOR:  How was the golf course playing today?

MORGAN PRESSEL:  I thought it was playing well.  A little bit cooler and overcast.  A little bit of rain there on the back nine.  It was a little bit firmer than maybe in practice.  We weren't getting whole a lot of roll out there.

I don't know.  I thought the pins were in good spots.  Not easy spots, but challenging spots.  Nothing kind of funky.  I thought the golf course played well.  I also shot 66, so I guess I'm a little biased.

 

 

Q.  How do you feel the season is going?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Yeah, I mean, it's going okay.  I had a big win in Japan, and I've played all right on the LPGA Tour.  I haven't played great.  I've had a couple good finishes.  I feel like I've just been continually building on it. Today was really the first day where I felt solid all around pretty much all year, and so that's encouraging to me with this event here and next week also, of course, with the British Open.

 

 

Q.  How many putts did you have today?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  27, which isn't a terribly low number.  But when you hit 15 greens, like I said, that makes sense.

 

 

Q.  You're pretty much, what age now, 22?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Yeah.

 

 

Q.  So you're pretty much a veteran now.  (Laughter.)  When you see the 15 year olds coming out now as professionals, how does that make you feel.

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  It makes me feel old.  To think that I've been out here five years is pretty crazy.  I mean, some days it feels like it's been 20, but other days, I mean, I feel like I just got out here.  Still being one of the younger players out here, I don't feel too old.  I hang out with Jules [Juli Inkster] enough that it makes me feel okay.  But, um, you know, there's definitely a great wave of young players, young American players.  There are a lot of players that are coming out from Asia very young.  They can play.  They've got game.

 

 

Q.  Would you recommend it?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  You know, I turned pro in the middle of my senior year in high school and finished school and didn't go to college.  You know, it was my -- it was perfect for me.  Everybody is different.  People mature differently.  People see different values in schooling and in golf and things like that.

 

 

Q.  Have you been studying online?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  No, I'm not studying now.  I'm studying golf right now.

 

 

Q.  Were you ever in any danger of falling out of love with golf having started so young?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  You know, I don't think so.  There are times when golf is more frustrating than anything and you get pretty down and upset.  It's hard out here when you're not playing well.  It's very mentally challenging.

You just kind of have to put your head down and plow through it and hope to come out on the other side sooner rather than later.

 

 

Q.  You said you went to Japan and won in Japan.  Is that because there aren't too many tournaments in the LPGA this year?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  No, I had a chance to go play in one of their majors over there on a week off, and it fit in the schedule.  I may go back to play maybe one more event.  I'm not sure.   But with there only being 25, what is it, 25 events, 26, something like that on our tour, it was an opening.  It was between Mexico and Mobile, so it just fit.  I was happy that I went.

 

 

Q.  During high school, did you consider to be homeschooled?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Never.  Never.  I think I would have -- I don't think I would have been real happy had I been homeschooled.  I didn't even want to go to an academy.  I mean, I went to school from 7:45 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon and practiced after that.  And the weekends were really my days to practice.  I missed some school to play tournaments, but I could have never been homeschooled to play more golf.  I played enough as it was.

 

 

Q.  What about university?  Do you think that one day you'll be up...

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Maybe.  You know, there are different things.  I mean, I don't know whether I -- I mean, it would depend on my golf -- but whether I would go back to go get a degree or maybe take a couple classes in things that I'm interested in.  I would like to learn how to cook.  That would be something that I would like to learn.  So maybe a specialty school or something like that, but I don't know.

 

 

Q.  Was it your decision to leave school, to not go on?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Yeah.  Absolutely.  It was -- I had committed to Duke University and that was where I wanted to go.  That was in the middle of the my junior year - or actually, between my sophomore and junior year.

Almost a few months into my junior year I kind of said, I don't want to do this anymore if I don't have to.  I don't want to write any more papers.  I just finished out my senior year, played a few LPGA events before I graduated, and now I'm playing full time.   I mean, being out here, I don't know how Michelle [Wie] does it.  It takes up so much time, so much work so much travel.  I like to have my down time.  I couldn't imagine to have to go back and do homework.  That would be frustrating.

 

 

Q.  What do you liked to do in your down time?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Well, I like to sit by the pool, but it's kind of cloudy today, so I don't know if I can do that.  I like to relax.  I like to read.  I mess around on my computer, work out, things like that. When I'm at home, I just like to spend time with my family because I don't get to see them that much as much as we travel.  I just like to relax.  (Laughter.)  It's hard to do.  It's hard to do out here to just kind of take some time and sit and do nothing.  I try to challenge myself to do that.

 

 

Q.  Do you practice anything like yoga or Tai Chi?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  I do some yoga depending on how I feel in the morning whether I go to yoga or spin class or just take my bike out and ride it around.  There are a lot of different things I liked to at home like that.

 

 

Q.  Do you wear the same earrings every day, or do you have a different pair of earrings for every outfit?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  I don't have a different par for every outfit, but I think I brought six or seven with me.  I usually wear my yellow diamonds, but today I went out on a limb and changed it up.

 

 

Q.  So just as the mood takes you?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Yeah, black outfit, I wear black earrings.

 

 

Q.  You hit the ball some distance further than you used to.  Is that because you're stronger?  Your technique's changed?  What allowed you or made you hit it further?  Obviously you needed to gain distance, and you've done it.

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Absolutely.  I have.  It's been quite encouraging.  I would say that 75% of it has been technique, really changing my technique to be more on top of the ball.  The other 25% is part working out and getting a little bit stronger and part golf clubs.  I've worked really hard with Callaway to get the right equipment.  I'm playing a little bit of a longer driver, so that's helped me gain a little bit of distance.  But I could still keep it in play, which is something that's very helpful and is something that we've worked hard on.  

 

The new irons that I've started to play this year, the Diablo Edge Irons, they go forever.  I mean, instead of from 150 yards, instead of hitting a 6-iron, now I'm hitting between an 8 and a 7-iron.  And that makes a big difference.  I'm hitting it 15 yards further off the tee, but now you've also got a club to a club and a half less into the green.  So it's changed my game tremendously.

 

 

Q.  You still work with Martin Hall?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  No, I work with Adam Schrieber on my golf swing.

 

 

Q.  Where is he based?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Traverse City, Michigan.  He's Anthony Kim's coach, too.

 

 

Q.  In Japan, how many shots did you win by and what was the tournament?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  It was the Salonpas Cup World Ladies Championship.  It's got a long title.  I think that's it.  And I won by three over there.

 

 

Q.  When was that win?

 

MORGAN PRESSEL:  Early May, first week in May.

 

 

 

MELISSA REID, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 77

 

 

 

MODERATOR:  I’d like to welcome Melissa Reid, the co-leader at the Evian Masters.  Congratulations on a superb round of six under par 66.  You must be thrilled.

 

MELISSA REID:  Yeah, it was nice.  I didn't hit it great on the range this morning, so I knew on the first tee I was really going to have to focus there.  It was going to be hard work.   But it turned out my I got my rhythm during the round and holed a few nice putts, which was good.

 

MODERATOR:  Was what the key to your good play?

MELISSA REID:  I think I just didn't put myself in any trouble.  I hit the fairways, hit the greens, hit my zones I wanted to hit, and then just rolled in a few good putts really. So, yeah, it is nice.

 

 

Q.  Have you been working on your putting?

 

MELISSA REID:  Yeah, I've been working the last couple weeks with my coach.  I’ve been working quite closely on my putting, because he thinks that's a weakness in my game.  So we've changed the posture a little bit, and I seem to be rolling the ball a lot nicer this week.

 

 

Q.  You're playing in the football match tonight as well.  Is that going to be a highlight for you?

 

MELISSA REID:  It's amazing, you know.  We're getting to play against Zidane and a few of the other good players.  It's also, my other sport is football.  Yeah, I'm really excited about playing.

 

 

Q.  Can you just talk us through your round?  You got going from the fifth really, didn't you?

 

MELISSA REID:  Yeah, I hit it quite close on the fifth: a good sand wedge in there.  I holed like, a seven or eight-footer. The next hole I hit a really good -- I wanted to fade a 7-iron into that pin, which I did quite well.  Again, another six-footer and holed that. At the next hole, just a conservative wedge right of the pin; holed about a 15-footer. I had a bad birdie on 8 but made up with a good birdie on 9.   Then I holed a monster putt on 10 from right across the green.  So my momentum just kept going really.  Played a bit conservative and then holed a few more good putts coming in.

 

 

Q.  You broke through with your first European Ladies Tour victory in Turkey this year.  How important is this tournament on the calendar?

 

MELISSA REID:  It's huge.  It's a good opportunity to get your world rankings up and a good opportunity to play against the best players in the world, you know, and see how you compare and what you need to work on. You know, my personal opinion is I think you need to play against the best players every single week.  You can only get better if you do that.  It's a fantastic event, and all the ladies on the LET are desperate to win and to play in this event.

 

 

Q.  This is your first time here?

 

MELISSA REID:  No, my second time.  Yeah, second time.  First time was last year.

 

 

Q.  Do you feel different now having won once?

 

MELISSA REID:  Yeah, you know, I feel like I've not -- you know, obviously I played well in Turkey, but I feel like I've not played my A Game yet this year but I've still managed to finish top 10 most weeks.  So I certainly feel that my game is going in the right direction.  That obviously gives you a bit of confidence.  And then you play an event like this and you see how you compare against the big girls.  So it was quite nice to shoot 66 today.  I proved to myself that I can do it.

 

 

M.J. HUR, ROLEX RANKINGS NO.  26

 

M.J. HUR

 

MODERATOR:  We're here and M.J. Hur.  Congratulations on a fine 5-under par round.  Talk a little bit about how you played today?

 

M.J. HUR:  Thank you.  I play really solid today.  My driver was very good, and my iron and putter, everything are so perfect.  Few holes I missed the greens, but still I got great up-and-down, so I had really great day today.

 

MODERATOR:  How is the golf course playing today?

M.J. HUR:  You know, the weathers are so nice because no sun, and courses are a little wet condition.  Not harder.  Not firmer.  Course are great condition, and I like that, everything.  The fairway and greens are very good.

 

MODERATOR:  You're wearing Evian pink today.  How are you enjoying the whole experience of the Evian Masters?

M.J. HUR:  This is my first time in France and first time playing Evian Masters.  It's such a great, what is it, setting.  Great setting.  I love the pink and white, so that's why I match my clothing today because it's first round.  I think I will also match Sunday.

 

Q.  What other colors are you liking to wear?

 

M.J. HUR:  Oh, my favorite color is red or yellow, but I like them all.  Because if they're good looking clothing, I can wear everything.  But the favorite color is red.

 

 

Q.  Would that be what you would usually wear on a Sunday?

 

M.J. HUR:  Red on Sunday?  Unfortunately I have only one red shirt.  But I want to wear the pink more because it's Evian Masters.  It's very good matching.

 

 

Q.  What do your initials stand for?

 

M.J. HUR:  My full name is Mijung, M-i-j-u-n-g, but I just use the initials, M.J.

 

 

Q.  That's what everybody calls you then?

 

M.J. HUR?  Yes.  I think no one knows my full name.  Just call M. J.  So easy to remember.

 

 

Q.  Could you just run us quickly through what was the highlight of your round and what was the strength of your game today.

 

M.J. HUR:  I hit great driver, hit to the fairway, and if I got a chance, like 50-degree wedge - I love 5 degree wedge or 54.  So I think I just take the chance every hole with the wedges.  Also, my putter, twice, like last hole and No. 12, I made long birdie putts.  So I like today's game.

 

 

Q.  Just one of those days when golf was very easy, you did everything you were meant to do?

 

M.J. HUR:  That's my goal for golf.  I want to play really easy like top players, especially hit fairway and green and putt.  It's so easy, but it's really hard to do.

 

 

Q.  How long was your putt on 18?

 

M.J. HUR:  That one was five meters.

 

 

Q.  And the one on 12?

 

M.J. HUR:  Ten meters.

 

SONG-HEE KIM, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 9

 

 

 

MODERATOR:  We're here with Song Hee Kim.  Congratulations on a fine 5-under par round. Can you talk a little bit about your round today?

 

SONG-HEE KIM:  Well, I had a great day.  I know it was a little bit rain, but still be patient and, you know, my putting -- I mean, my putting goes in a lot.  I had a perfect day today.

 

 

Q.  How did the golf course play with the rain?  Did it play easier?

 

SONG-HEE KIM:  I think a little bit soft, but same as yesterday.

 

 

 

 

MIKA MIYAZATO, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 47

 

 

 

MODERATOR:  We're here with Mika Miyazato.  She shot 4-under par in the first round.  Talk a little bit about how you played today.

 

MIKA MIYAZATO:  (via translator) Today I was able to have a lot of good shots, and I had a really good putting day.

 

MODERATOR:  How are you enjoying being in France at the Evian Masters?

MIKA MIYAZATO:  I like here, so really feel good.  But course is a little tough.  Greens good and small, yeah.

 

 

Q.  (Question regarding course conditions.)

 

MIKA MIYAZATO:  I think greens a little bit slow here.

 

 

Q.  Slower today than yesterday?

 

MIKA MIYAZATO:  Uh-huh.

 

 

Q.  And were they more receptive because of the water and little bit of rain?

 

MIKA MIYAZATO:  A little bit green soft, yeah. (Indiscernible.)

 

 

Q.  (No microphone.)

 

MIKA MIYAZATO:  (via translator)

Compared to last year, the greens are much slower compared to last year.  Yeah.

 

YANI TSENG, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 5

 

 

 

MODERATOR: Yani, Congratulations on a 4-under par first-round score.  Can you talk a little bit about your round?

 

YANI TSENG:  Yeah.  Today I play really solid.  I hit good driver and good iron, but I didn't putt very well today.  So I will just keep working on my putting and just stay patient for the whole weekend.   So if I think if I keep hitting the shots I did, I think I will be in great position on Sunday.

 

MODERATOR:  You are sponsored by Lacoste.  Is it extra special for you to come play in France given your relationship with Lacoste?

YANI TSENG:  Yeah, absolutely, yes.  It's a big family.  With the Lacoste we have dinner last night, two nights ago, and I really enjoy it out here.  It’s been very special if I can win this tournament.  It would be very awesome.  Just feels really good to come back here to see all the Lacoste family here.

 

Q.  Can you just take us through your round today?

YANI TSENG:  Okay.  Second hole I hit a pitching wedge to four feet; make birdie.

From No. 3, I have a 3-putt from three feet.

No. 7 I had a 3-wood second shot near to green fringe with just little chip into one feet; tap-in for birdie.

No. 10, I have pitching wedge for second shot, and eight feet.

Number 15, I had driver and 6-iron for layup and 52, 85 yard for third shot into 5 feet and I made it.

No. 18 I have a 5-iron for my second shot, landed on the green about 18 feet and then missed it for two-putt.

 

 

Q.  Can you just talk about the state of your game?  You won the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier in the year.  You are in the race for Rolex Rankings No. 1.  Can you just talk about your game, and are you ready to win again?

 

YANI TSENG:  I'm pretty ready.  I'm always ready to win a tournament.  After Kraft, I didn't play so well.  It's always like top 20, top 20, and then just couldn't get up.  I don't know why.  Probably, I mean, too much pressure on myself.  But I feel really relaxed this week.  This is my third year here.  I feel things like little different, like more confidence on this golf course.  This course is not easy. This is my third time here, so I feel the course and the strategy is a little easier for me to do it.  I'm really ready to win.  I would love to win this tournament in France.  It will be very special to me.