J-Ro’s 66 in pro-am augurs well for Open

Jennifer Rosales fired a sizzling six-under par 66 and emerged the low scorer in the pro-am of the Weetabix Women’s British Open Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) then said she’s ready for the $1.6 million (around P107 million) championship firing off Thursday at the Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, London.

"I hit seven birdies and made one bogey. I think I’m more than ready this week," swing coach Bong Lopez quoted Rosales as saying.

However, Lopez admitted that his ward remains far from being 100 percent fit, saying Rosales still favors her right wrist which she reinjured last week, forcing the ace Filipina shotmaker to withdraw from the Evian Masters in France.

"Protected naman ung wrist nya kasi naka-bandaged at nag-therapy pa rin siya, kaya lang kumikirot pa rin daw," said Lopez. "But this is a major event kaya masakit man daw eh pipilitin niya."

Rosales, a PLDT Global endorser, was set to tee off at 12:35 p.m. with Laura Davis and Sherri Steinhauer, a rather late time where the playing condition is expected to get tougher.

"Nasa tono ang swing nya kaya she’s hitting the ball very well. She’s in high spirits," said Lopez.

He added that the long-hitting Rosales, now brandishing a brand-new Ping driver to go with her trusted Ping irons, hopes to make the most out of the four dog-leg par-5s, which he described as "bonus" holes for their relatively wide fairways.

"Malalapad ang fairways ng mga par-5s, kahit dog-leg kaya bonus na sa kanila ito. Basta dapat diretso ang drive," said Lopez.

Lopez added that Rosales’ short game would also be put in focus since the putting surfaces are big, thus requiring distance control to avoid the possibility of three-putt miscues. — Dante Navarro