Hinako Shibuno reacts to a chip shot that almost went into the cup on the 17th green during the third round of the U.S. Women s Open golf tournament on Dec. 12 in Houston. (AP Photo)
Hinako Shibuno said on Saturday she is learning to live with the overnight celebrity she gained after coming out of nowhere to win last year s Women s British Open in her first LPGA event.
Shibuno, who is known for her solid all-round game and magnetic personality, was dubbed the Smiling Cinderella after the breakthrough win, which catapulted her to fame in her native Japan and beyond.
KLPGA 투어 김아림, LPGA 투어 메이저대회 US여자오픈 1라운드 선두와 1타 차 공동 2위 viva100.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from viva100.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
At 23, Brooke Henderson is already a veteran of the U.S. Women’s Open. This week, she’s playing her eighth championship. But the previous seven have been nothing like this.
From the December date to the driving range that has a chain-link fence 60 yards off the tee, everything is a bit off-kilter at this year’s event being played at Houston’s Champions Golf Club.
“It’s definitely very different,” said Henderson. “I feel the biggest one is trying to learn the two courses, and understanding them the best we can going into [Thursday] and Friday.”
It’s rare that any tournament uses two courses, let alone a major, but due to the limited daylight hours, that was the only option for the United States Golf Association. It’s meant a cram session for players and caddies as they try to grasp the nuances of the Jackrabbit and Cyprus Creek courses. The golfers will play one round on each course before moving to Cyprus Creek for the final two over the weekend.