2024 Olympics: Lilia Vu seems to be sturdy, medal rivalry 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 underneath par, as Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang shot an even-par 72.

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

Though she began sturdy, her warm-up was not excellent. 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? But it surely’s okay. I’m going to strive my finest and hopefully can get higher. I get in my manner. That’s like your personal enemy, mainly… I’ll discover my manner 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 obtained again to 4-under on the day together 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 always and appeared virtually giddy about the entire expertise.

Picture by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs

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

“To me, it could rank just a little greater than a significant. Within the sense that you just’re enjoying in your nation, and it’s extra than simply golf,” Vu mentioned on Tuesday. “It’s the Olympics, which is one of the best athletes everywhere in the world.”

The previous UCLA golfer is enjoying alongside Frenchwoman Celine Boutier. She at present leads the event after carding a 7-under 65 on day one. Vu noticed firsthand how unbelievable the French crowds had 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 enjoying for my nation that saved my household once we wanted to on the boat. So I’m enjoying for greater than me. I’m attempting 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.

Picture 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. At present was just a little extra additional. But it surely’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 deliver out individuals’s patriotism. They like to cheer for the athletes representing their nation. The crowds are huge, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.

Vu trails Boutier by 5 pictures 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 finest season together 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 large levels.

Now, the five-time LPGA winner should imagine in herself and belief that she has what it takes to develop into an Olympic medalist.

Vu, Boutier and Amy Yang tee off at 3:55 a.m. ET for his or her second spherical of the girls’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 may as well observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.