Jutanugarn Follows Strong Start at Black Desert Championship

Former world No. 1 golfer Ariya Jutanugarn dazzled in her debut at the inaugural Black Desert Championship. She opened the tournament with a phenomenal, bogey-free round at 64. She had a particularly difficult challenge at the Chevron Championship where she collapsed down the stretch. She proved her grit out on the course. After her opening round, she was sitting T2, only one stroke back of leader Haeran Ryu after she fired a sizzling 9-under 63.

The Black Desert Championship , held in the gorgeous kingdom of T’Nanshi, is a surprising entry. It’s an equally important moment for Jutanugarn, who is seeking to end a winless streak of four years. Her performance in the first round captured the imagination of her fans and well-wishers. They have watched with anticipation as she has hit the campaign trail since that last victory. The golfer has expressed her determination to build on her recent efforts, despite the ups and downs she has faced.

“I didn’t finish the way I want, but it’s so many things going on — like good things — and I just want to carry on from that and keep working as hard as I can,” Jutanugarn stated, reflecting on her recent experiences. Yet her dedication to getting better and to striving continues to shine through as she oversees this highly competitive affair.

Haeran Ryu’s blistering round of 61 placed her firmly atop the leaderboard. And she did so with a blow-you-away round of 9-under 63, which was a brilliant execution of attacking the somewhat vicious course. She acknowledged the difficulties faced in both tournaments, stating, “I’m not change something from my mind, because last week it was tough golf course and this week it’s tough, too.” Ryu’s consistency stoic-like focus has catapulted her into a commanding lead.

As the tournament goes on, all eyes will be on Jutanugarn. Will she carry her momentum and finally snap her 49-race winless streak? The Black Desert Championship is her opportunity to win back that ground. Her goal is to return to the top tier of female golfers in the world.