Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesCristie Kerr, ranked No. 2 in the world, made four birdies and four bogeys during her round.
PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The supersized grouping went off the first tee at Locust Hill Country Club just a few minutes before 9 a.m. Thursday, beginning first-round play in the LPGA Championship.
Fascination, at least by women's golf standards, tagged along.
Cristie Kerr, Michelle Wie and Brittany Lincicome -- the few, the proud, the Americans with Q Ratings -- made for a glamour pairing that the LPGA could better use on a major-championship Sunday afternoon than on opening day. Still, there's never a bad time for fine dining.
"Great players with different styles," teaching guru David Leadbetter said as he walked outside the ropes with an expert eye trained on Wie, his student of five years. "About the best out here."
This week's Rolex World Rankings confirm the swing coach's assessment, at least for argument's sake.
Kerr, who won her second career major by a record 12 shots in this event last year, ranks No. 2 in the world, behind Taiwan's Yani Tseng. Wie is No. 10 and Lincicome, fresh from her fourth career victory earlier this month, is 14th. As a group, they represent three of the top four Americans in the world, with only Paula Creamer 's No. 11 ranking preventing their trifecta status.
For an American-based tour that has turned top-heavy with international winners, that made the opening-day threesome something of a women's golf's Kirk, Spock and McCoy, going off to fight the good fight.
"I just don't think that a lot of people really know how good the women are, and a lot of attention is focused on the PGA Tour," Kerr said.
She might have added, "I'm giving her all she's got, Captain."
It was a promising attraction. Kerr's game is craft, and Lincicome and Wie are about power. Both are among the tour's longest hitters, averaging an identical 273 yards that is almost 20 paces beyond Kerr.
"It doesn't really matter," Kerr said of the distance challenge. "Let them outdrive me. You make your money on the greens."
But nobody cashed in on all that Thursday feel-good opportunity.
Kerr birdied her opening two holes but went on to card an even-par 72 -- four birdies and four bogeys. Wie -- three birdies, three bogeys -- also shot 72, leaving both six shots behind Tseng, the leader, who opened with a 7-birdie 66. Creamer was one shot back at 67. Angela Stanford, Diana D'Alessio, Stacy Prammanasudh and Meena Lee were bunched at 68.
Lincicome, despite hitting 15 greens in regulation, used 34 putts and carded a 2-over 74.
"I just didn't play very well," Kerr said. "Not to make excuses, but I didn't even go out to dinner last night. I wasn't feeling well. A bug. Didn't sleep very well. Just mentally and physically was a little bit off."
Wie's round was undone by bogeys on two par-5s, usually the strength of her game.
"I didn't play them well today," she said.
And Lincicome was left wondering what happened to her putter.
"About 10 more putts today than what I've had the past couple of weeks per round," she said.
The fearless threesome drew the day's largest gallery, a fine following that was part of a solid and supportive crowd that views the tournament with significant local pride. But the featured group turned out to be more tease than please.
"They were cheering hard," Kerr said.
Unfortunately, without a lot of reason.
It's never a good sign when the day's highlight is a par-save on 18. The fact that distinction belonged to both Kerr and Wie spoke volumes about the day. But it did beat the alternative.
The finishing hole, a straight-away 396-yard par 4, is lined tightly on both sides by large northern oak and maple trees. It is the prototype and timeless design of old, northeast courses.
Kerr pushed her tee shot right, into deep rough. Her second shot clipped a limb and stopped 100 yards short of the green, again in the rough.
Wie's tee shot went even farther right than Kerr's, stopping just shy of steps leading into the merchandising tent. With no other option, she punched a shot back into the fairway, and also remained a wedge away from the green.
Both women put their third shots inside 10 feet and one-putted, matching Lincicome's two-putt par to finish.
"It felt great," Kerr said of the finish. "Shooting even-par on the first day of a major. Nobody is shooting 10-under. You can't win on the first day, and I know I can go low on this golf course.
"I was a little bit off, and could still have shot 2- or 3-under."
Another day awaits. So do opportunity and need.
