2024 Olympics: Lilia Vu appears to be like robust, medal competition for Crew USA

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

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

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

Despite the fact that she began robust, her warm-up was not good. Vu defined that it was a large number and that she didn’t really feel nice about her recreation.

“I used to be getting imposter syndrome a bit of 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 greatest and hopefully can get higher. I get in my method. That’s like your personal enemy, principally… I’ll discover my method 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 received again to 4-under on the day along with her ultimate birdie at 15. Nonetheless, she went 2-over in her final three holes to file a 70.

Signing for an under-par rating is large 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 get pleasure from each second of the journey. She smiled continuously and appeared nearly giddy about the entire expertise.

Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos

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

“To me, it might rank a bit of larger than a serious. Within the sense that you simply’re enjoying on your nation, and it’s extra than simply golf,” Vu mentioned on Tuesday. “It’s the Olympics, which is the most effective athletes everywhere in the world.”

The previous UCLA golfer is enjoying alongside Frenchwoman Celine Boutier. She at the moment leads the match 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 type of thought — modified my mindset. I used to be, okay, I’m enjoying for my nation that saved my household after 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.

Photograph by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP by way of Getty Photos

“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 this time was a bit of 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 convey out individuals’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 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 Crew 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 imagine in herself and belief that she has what it takes to turn 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 ladies’s golf competitors on the 2024 Olympics at Le Golf Nationwide.

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