In a previous life, Michelle Wie West would have gone to the practice green after an opening 81 at the Kia Classic. Instead, she went to bathe with daughter Makenna.

As for the comeback, it’s been a tough day given the cold and rainy conditions in Carlsbad, California. Like West shagged the first hole at Aviara Golf Club and then a series of bogies followed.

“I took a lot of great strokes today,” said Wie West, who last competed at the LPGA in June 2019.

“At the same time, I just couldn’t get my putter to work.”

Hall of Famer Judy Rankin said there were many times after one round when Wie West talked about getting lots of good shots and Rankin shook his head. This time, however, it was true.

“I’ll tell you she got a lot of good recordings today,” said Rankin, who raved about Wie West’s Swing throughout the show.

Kia Classic: Leaderboard

Coupled with a good attitude, Rankin seemed pretty positive about what the future might mean for Wie West, noting that it is difficult to remember how to score after a long hiatus.

“I had a big smile on my face all day today,” said Wie West, “because life is good. I’m playing out here again. I have a lovely daughter.

“Life is great.”

While most of the day’s attention was on How West’s Return, there was another player who made her debut in 2021 and made everything look pretty effortless. Inbee Park, Hall of Famer, carded a bogey-free 66 in one fell swoop to top compatriot Hyo Joo Kim.

Since the fairways in Aviara were not littered, the officials decided to introduce preferred lies for all four rounds due to the poor course conditions.

Kia Classic

Kia Classic

Inbee Park tees off the 10th hole during the first round of the 2021 KIA Classic at Aviara Golf Club on March 25, 2021 in Carlsbad, California. (Photo: Donald Miralle / Getty Images)

“I know it’s going to be a test of some patience with the putting green this week and since I’m obviously my first week outside I’m probably a little rusty,” said Park, “so I’m just trying to get that . ” Tournament feeling for the next three days.

The story goes on

“If the results are good, it’s great, but if not, I’m just warming up. It’s a good warm up for a first day. “

This was Kim’s first tournament on the LPGA since November 2019. Kim, currently number 8 in the world, said her transition back to the US was sometimes frustrating and awkward because she hadn’t communicated much in English in over a year . She won twice when she competed on the Korean LPGA in 2020.

“Actually, before I came here during the pandemic,” Kim said, “I was just going out to work out or to practice, and when I started packing to finally get to the US, my mom was a little nervous and asked me. ” , ‘Where are you going?’ I told her LPGA, most of the tournaments are overseas so I should go now.

“So I packed my bags and I’m here and happy to be here.”

Sophia Popov, In Gee Chun have Stephanie Meadow and Mel Reid with 4 under a third place.

“I haven’t seen the sun in a while,” said Popov, who had two of her five college wins in San Diego. “It was kind of brutal. The back nine was quite rainy and windy; The first nine were kind of a roller coaster ride, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey. “