RAIN SOFTENS UP OLD COURSE FOR WORLD STARS TO PLUNDER BIRDIES GALORE

          Rainy start to Ricoh Women's British Open Championship over the Old Course, St Andews
                          Early morning picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
It began raining before 9pm last night in St Andrews and it was still raining this morninig when the Rocoh Women's British Open Championship favourite, Inbee Park, teed off in the first round over the Old Course at just after 7am.
But the rain did not stop the 25-year-old South Korean, bidding to win a fourth Major in a row, from birdieing five of her first six holes.
A sodden Old Course, with next to no wind, was there for the taking by the stars of the world of women's golf.
And Inbee wasted no time in getting into the red figures. She birdied the first, the third, the fourth, the sixth and the short eighth, turning in an ominous five-under-par 31 with the bulk of the field still on the practice range or having breakfast.
Japan's Ai Miyazato, playing ahead of Inbee Park, also plundered the birdies. She turned in four-under 32 with birdies at the second, sixth, eighth and ninth. Then she birdied the 10th join Inbee Park in the lead at five under par overall