Morning report from Team Ireland on Day 12 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

AUGUST 4th, 2021:  Stephanie Meadow is the first Irish athlete in action in Tokyo this morning, taking to the course for Round 1 of the Women’s Individual Stroke Play.

Meadow, who teed off at 2.47am (Irish time), remains out on the course.

GOLF

In golf, the Women’s Individual Stroke Play began today with Stephanie Meadow representing Team Ireland at Kasumigaseki County Club. Meadow, who teed off at 2.47am (Irish time), remains out on the course

The conditions are a contributing factor, with temperatures rising to 34 degrees Celsius and real feel touching 38 degrees. 

Evening Report

At the close of play on day one of the women’s individual stroke play, Stephanie Meadow carded a 1-over par 72, and is tied 36th.

Meadow relied on her short game, saving par on two occasions on the front nine. Some loose iron shots led to two bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes and Meadow slipped to 3-over par. However, birdies on the 16th and 17th put her right back in the mix.

“I’m happy enough to make 2 birdies coming in, it makes a big difference,” reflected Meadow afterwards. “I wasn’t overly impressed with how my irons were today, but that’s okay, we’ll figure it out on the range and be ready to go again tomorrow.”

“3-over is a lot to come back from, 1-over is not so bad. I think it was just so hot out there I was trying to stay 1-shot at a time so I was just trying to grind through it, get finished and be okay when  done. I think I had some good birdie opportunities and hit some good putt, so it was nice to see them go in.”

Meadow also represented Team Ireland alongside Maguire in Rio and is proud to return this time once again: “I mean, anytime you get to wear the Ireland uniform, on the first tee and they say, ‘‘representing Ireland, Stephanie Meadow’, it’s special. It gives you a little bit of butterflies. It’s not something I experience every week so I just have always wanted to make Ireland proud. Especially now with everything that’s gone on the last two years. I think everyone wants to do even better for everyone at home. It’s been great.”

Due to the poor weather forecast for the weekend, tournament organisers are considering alternatives to finishing the tournament on Saturday as planned. With the medical advisors’ input, it has been determined that playing more than 18 holes in one day is not possible and therefore the event may be reduced to 54 holes. Players will be notified after the close of round 2 tomorrow.