Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 21 June 2019
Kim takes early lead ahead of the wind and rain at Hazeltine

CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — Hyo "I didn't even realize it until
Joo Kim set small goals to she actually hit," Thompson
help her on the long course said. "That's a first."
of Hazeltine National at the Thompson thought Hazel-
Women's PGA Champion- tine was the longest on the
ship. LPGA Tour, at least for ma-
Her target was hitting 12 jors. Mission Hills for the ANA
greens and taking no more Inspiration played 6,763 on
than 30 putts Thursday in the card in the desert air of
the opening round, and California. Thompson fig-
Kim didn't realize she hit ured the course would be
both of them. More impor- shorter than where the tees
tant was she dropped only were for practice rounds.
one shot before the wind "They kept it pretty long,"
and rain arrived, posting a Thompson said. "They didn't
3-under 69 for a one-shot move anything, especially
lead among the early start- the one long par 3." That
ers. would be No. 13, which
"The course played really measured 195 yards, and
long today," Kim said. "It just had Thompson reaching
kept feeling like I just want- for a 4-iron.
ed to play even par, and The morning wave figured
that's kind of what was in Michelle Wie walks across the 18th green after missing a putt during the first round of the KPMG to have the easier time of
my mind." Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Thursday, June 20, 2019, in Chaska, Minn. Hazeltine, but it became
Michelle Wie left wonder- Associated Press tougher in the afternoon
ing about her future. She with a quick shift in the
returned to competition for — just 244 yards shorter "I hit my driver twice to- Annie Park joined Juta- weather. A blue sky and
the first time in two months, than the card at Pebble day — pretty good," Juta- nugarn at 70, while the moderate breeze soon
was rubbing ice on her right Beach for the U.S. Open nugarn said with a proud group at 71 included major gave way to wind and rain
wrist and shot 84, matching last week — and it felt even smile before adding, champions Lydia Ko and about the time Kim, Ju-
her highest score as a pro. longer when dark clouds "Made bogey." So Yeon Ryu. tanugarn and Thompson
Wie said she loved being on the horizon brought That was on the par-5 11th Lexi Thompson, another were finishing.
back, but began crying strong wind, cool tempera- hole. She also hit her driver big hitter, hit 3-wood just "I was wearing my sunglass-
when she said, "I'm not en- tures and a steady rain that on the par-5 15th into the through the green on the es and I wondered if it was
tirely sure how much I have soaked the course. right rough, leaving her 260 543-yard 15th to set up the sunglasses that were
left in me." It was long enough for Ju- yards away. She laid up birdie. Coming off a victory dark," Ko said. "No, it's dark.
Only seven players from tanugarn to hit driver — and made birdie the con- two weeks ago, Thompson The wind was really blow-
the early draw managed twice. The Thai typically ventional way, and relied dropped a shot on the par- ing and at one point, when
to break par, a group that doesn't even carry a driver on a 3-wood and a 4-iron 5 third hole and played the you're hitting straight into
included Ariya Jutanugarn, because she has so much to set up birdie on the 528- front nine — her second the wind, I think I hit one
one of the longest hitters power she is just as effec- yard seventh hole with wa- nine — in 1 over for a 72. of my drives 200 yards be-
on the LPGA Tour. Hazel- tive with either a 3-wood or ter guarding the front of She was stunned by seeing cause I didn't hit it very well
tine played at 6,831 yards a 2-iron. the green. Jutanugarn with a driver. and it went straight up."q

Trump says Roger Penske to get Presidential Medal of Freedom

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE trip to the White House this to be recognized.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- year. Penske had visited in "I am humbled by the
dent Donald Trump says April as Trump celebrated president's acknowledge-
he's awarding a Presiden- Joey Logano's NASCAR ment of our achievements
tial Medal of Freedom championship. Penske, 82, in business, in motorsports
to Roger Penske, one of is a fixture in the Detroit au- and in our community.
the most powerful men in tomotive scene and is one Thank you to President
American motorsports. of America's most success- Trump for this special rec-
"He's very deserving. He's a ful businessmen. ognition," Penske said in a
great gentleman," Trump Trump made the an- statement.
said as he made the an- nouncement the day after Trump did not say when
nouncement Thursday he presented the medal Penske's ceremony will be
at the White House. "I've to economist Arthur Laffer, held.
known him a long time, whose disputed theories on When Pagenaud won the
and a very brilliant guy." tax cuts have guided Re- Indy 500 on May 26, Trump
Trump said he spoke with publican policy since the called Penske in the victory
Penske on Thursday to in- 1980s. Trump has previous- lane from Japan, where
form him and that Penske In this Monday, June 10, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump ly awarded the medal to the president was in the
shakes hands with racing team owner Roger Penske, left, as
is "very thrilled" to be re- driver Simon Pagenaud watches on the South Lawn at the White sports figures, honoring golf midst of a four-day state
ceiving the nation's highest House in Washington, as the president honored Team Penske for champion Tiger Woods last visit. Trump also tweeted
commendation for a civil- winning the 2019 Indianapolis 500 auto race. month and posthumously congratulations to Penske
ian. citing baseball legend and said he had watched
Penske celebrated his re- owner at the Indianapolis mon Pagenaud, a feat that Babe Ruth last year. the race despite the early
cord 18th victory as a car 500 in May with driver Si- earned Penske his second Penske called it "an honor" morning hour in Tokyo.q