'Love links golf': Kyriacou eyes another Aussie major

Perth Now

4 days ago

Steph Kyriacou is feeling right at home as she looks to join the party and capture a third straight golf major for Australia at the Women's British Open in Wales.
Kyriacou is feeling a little envious after watching fellow Sydney 24-year-old and great mate Grace Kim win this month's Evian Championship in France.
Kyriacou led last year's Evian event into the final round before finishing runner-up and posting a third top-10 from her first 14 major starts.
The ambitious two-time European Tour winner is yet to break through on the LPGA Tour and knows she is playing catch-up against her compatriots, including world No.5 Minjee Lee, who bagged her third career major at last month's PGA Championship.
Kyriacou says she's always feeding off the bumper Australian contingent now plying their trade in America, including eight in this week's Open field at Royal Porthcawl.
"There's a whole bunch of us out here now, so it's nice to have some other Aussies," she said ahead of Thursday's first round of the $US9.5 million event.
"I don't know what 'Greeny' (Hannah Green) and Minjee were like if it was just them two or not, but yeah, it's nice to have a couple Aussie mates and to hear the accent. It is very refreshing.
"It's kind of pretty competitive against all of us, I would say. Gracie's got one up on me, or two up on me, so I need to get a little wriggle along, don't I?"
After making the cut on her major championship debut at the 2020 Open, Kyriacou also boasts a tie for 13th and equal seventh in the event.
The links specialist is relishing another opportunity to contend at the last major of the year between Cardiff and Swansea.
"I love links golf," Kyriacou said.
"I love playing in the wind. I grew up at St Mick's (St Michael's Golf Club), which is on the water, so I've grown up trying to be creative.
"I feel like that's when I play my best golf. You can't be too technical when there's wind because it's just not really going to get you anywhere.
"You have to be a bit more creative, do a bit more to your swing.
"So technique goes out the window, which definitely helps me.
"Anything could still happen out here, but I'm feeling good going into the week."
Hira Naveed successfully qualified on Monday with a two-under-par 69 at Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club to join fellow West Australians Lee and Green in the field.
Kyriacou, Kim, Gabriela Ruffels, Karis Davidson and Cassie Porter round out the Australian challenge.
Defending champion and world No.3 Lydia Ko will spearhead a three-strong New Zealand charge also featuring former NSW Open winner Momoka Kobori and Amelia Garvey.
English sensation Lottie Woad is the bookmakers' favourite ahead of world No.1 Nelly Korda after winning last week's Scottish Open on her professional debut.