2024 Olympics: Lilia Vu seems robust, medal competition for Staff USA

Lilia Vu signed for a 2-under 70 for her first spherical of the 2024 Olympics.

She was the one Staff USA member to shoot beneath par, as Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang shot an even-par 72.

Vu bought off to a sizzling begin, being 4-under by means of seven holes, however she went chilly through the center a part of her spherical.

Regardless that she began robust, her warm-up was not good. Vu defined that it was a multitude and that she didn’t really feel nice about her recreation.

“I used to be getting imposter syndrome just a little bit,” Vu mentioned. “I used to be like, how am I right here proper now? Nevertheless it’s okay. I’m going to attempt my greatest and hopefully can get higher. I get in my approach. That’s like your individual enemy, mainly… I’ll discover my approach out. I at all times do.”

She dropped a shot on the par-5 ninth after which made 5 consecutive pars. The No. 2 ranked golfer bought again to 4-under on the day along with her last birdie at 15. Nonetheless, she went 2-over in her final three holes to file a 70.

Signing for an under-par rating is big on a course like Le Golf Nationwide. Nonetheless, these bogeys don’t matter within the grand scheme of issues.

This week marks Vu’s Olympic debut. The 26-year-old appears to take pleasure in each second of the journey. She smiled consistently and appeared virtually giddy about the entire expertise.

Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs

Forward of the competitors, Vu dropped the mic and hypothetically put successful a medal as the final word achievement.

“To me, it will rank just a little increased than a significant. Within the sense that you just’re taking part in on your nation, and it’s extra than simply golf,” Vu mentioned on Tuesday. “It’s the Olympics, which is the perfect athletes everywhere in the world.”

The previous UCLA golfer is taking part in alongside Frenchwoman Celine Boutier. She presently leads the event after carding a 7-under 65 on day one. Vu noticed firsthand how unimaginable the French crowds have been for his or her countrywoman.

“It was so cool to see all her followers push laborious for her,” Vu defined. “I believe on gap 15, I sort of thought — modified my mindset. I used to be, okay, I’m taking part in for my nation that saved my household once we wanted to on the boat. So I’m taking part in for greater than me. I’m making an attempt to present again to my nation and earn them a medal.”

She mentioned the crowds reminded her of The Open when she performed alongside Englishwoman Charley Hull.

Photograph by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP through Getty Photographs

“There are extra followers as a result of it’s the Olympics,” she mentioned. “Like even non-golf followers are right here, I believe. As we speak was just a little extra additional. Nevertheless it’s actually cool to see. They’re all pushing laborious for her. And it’s not like they’re rooting towards me. They’re cheering for me too.”

The Olympics carry out folks’s patriotism. They like to cheer for the athletes representing their nation. The crowds are large, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.

Vu trails Boutier by 5 photographs heading into the second spherical of play. She sits tied third with three different women, Gaby Lopez, Morgane Metraux and Mariajo Uribe. Ashleigh Buhai sits solo second after she shot a 4-under 68.

The Staff USA member is within the medal hunt however has 54 holes left to play. It has not been her greatest season along with her combating accidents, however Vu’s recreation is coming into type on the proper time. She is a particular participant who is aware of what it takes to compete on these big phases.

Now, the five-time LPGA winner should consider in herself and belief that she has what it takes to turn out to be an Olympic medalist.

Vu, Boutier and Amy Yang tee off at 3:55 a.m. ET for his or her second spherical of the ladies’s golf competitors on the 2024 Olympics at Le Golf Nationwide.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can too observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.