Nelly Korda, World Number One, in a tie for 11th

After an inspiring 65 on the first day of the Olympic Games near Paris, French player Celine Boutier came down to earth with a bump at Le Golf National on Thursday.  She carded a disappointing 76.  However, despite a 4-over par round she is still just in the running on a tie for 6th spot.  The new leader is Morgane Metraux from Switzerland who opened with a 70 which she backed-up with a superb 6-under par 66 on day two for an 8-under par tally.

 

Morgane Metraux, the 27-year old who was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, and now lives in Lake Nona, Florida, USA leads the Olympics Paris 2024 by one shot.  The Chinese player Ruoning Yin has pride of second place by opening with rounds of 72 and 65.

 

Twenty-one year old Ruoning Yin was born in Kunming, China and now lives in Orlando, Florida.  She won the 2023 PGA Championship in Springfield, New Jersey, USA as only the second Chinese player ever after Shanshan Feng.  In September that year, Yin reached World Number One status having started the year outside the top 100.

 

Lydia Ko is a big name in women’s golf having had 26 professional wins up until 2023 when she suffered a slight dip in her form.  Yet in Paris the player from New Zealand has found her form again for the Olympics after opening with rounds of 72 and 67.

 

In February 2015 at the age of 17 years, nine months and eight days, Lydia Ko became the youngest golfer, male or female, to be ranked World Number One.

 

Ko has proudly had two appearances in the Olympics.  In the Olympics Rio 2016 she earned herself a Silver Medal and in the Olympics Tokyo 2021 she won a Bronze Medal.  Could this be Lydia Ko’s year to win an Olympic Gold?

 

Well, if you’re looking to find an American on the leaderboard you will have to scroll down to 11th position where you’ll find, among others, the current World Number One player, Nelly Korda (72,70) and Rose Zhang (72,70) on 2-under.  Dutch player, Anne van Dam is struggling with her long game this week and so has had to settle for a score of 149.

 

Some of the best sixty players in the world are playing at the Olympics at Le Golf National near Paris, where fortunately there is no halfway cut, so all the players are set to challenge the par-72 course from 7th to 10th August.

 

May the best player win!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Some of the best female golfers in the world are playing in the Olympics 2024 at Le Golf National near Paris.  Pictured is the World Number One player, Nelly Korda.