A Hot Start at TPC Boston: Marina Alex Leads After Day One of the FM Championship
Marina Alex was all smiles on Thursday, finding TPC Boston much more to her liking as she fired a bogey-free 4-under 68 to grab a one-shot lead in the inaugural FM Championship. The Massachusetts course, which has hosted PGA Tour events for nearly two decades, proved to be a challenge with its firm greens and run-off areas, but Alex made it look easy compared to her recent struggles in Scotland.
The conditions at TPC Boston couldn’t have been more different from what Alex faced over the past two weeks. Playing the Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links and the Women's British Open at St. Andrews, she battled brutal cold and fierce winds. St. Andrews was particularly unforgiving, with Alex caught on the rough side of the draw, shooting an 80 in the opening round and missing the cut. “It was tough for a lot of us on some of those waves,” Alex reflected. “I just felt like I wasn't going to play a good round of golf again, if I'm being honest. It was really good to see some good golf today. It was a break to not play in 30 mph winds. Just to be able to see yourself hit a shot and go where you're intending is nice.”
Quick Adjustments and Redemption on Home Soil
Back on more familiar turf, Alex made birdies on two of the par 5s—No. 7 on the front and No. 12 on the back—and picked up additional birdies on par-3s on both sides of the course, including the tricky 11th to an elevated green and the water-framed 16th. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. She had to scramble for par a few times on the back nine and faced the additional challenge of playing in a twosome after Jenny Shin withdrew, leading to longer waits and some frustration with pacing. "Our pace was a little off today because of us being behind a threesome, so I felt like it was hard at the end to get into a good rhythm," Alex admitted. "I felt like mentally that was the most challenging part of finishing up. Just staying in it. A lot of waits between shots. You get tired. It's late."
A Promising Start Amid Recent Struggles
For Alex, this performance is a breath of fresh air. The 34-year-old from New Jersey, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, had been struggling lately, missing four cuts in her last six starts and slipping to No. 121 in the world rankings. But Thursday’s round was a reminder of what she’s capable of when she’s on her game. “There has been some good golf this year,” she said. “It's been coming and going, but I'm happy to see a 68 today. I'm hoping that I can keep present for the next three rounds.”
Exciting Prospects for U.S. Solheim Cup Players
Joining Alex near the top of the leaderboard were some big names gearing up for the Solheim Cup in just two weeks. Former U.S. Women's Open champion Allisen Corpuz and Lauren Coughlin, a two-time winner on the LPGA this year, were part of a large group at 69. Both are key players on the U.S. team for the Solheim Cup, and this tournament serves as their final competition before the event kicks off. Two of the captain's picks, Lexi Thompson and Sarah Schmelzel, along with Massachusetts native Megan Khang, posted solid rounds of 70. But not all the Americans got off to the start they were hoping for—Rose Zhang managed only one birdie and Jennifer Kupcho carded two bogeys on par 5s, both shooting 75.
Lauren Coughlin’s Resilient Performance Despite Setback
Coughlin also found herself at 4 under but dropped a shot with a bogey on the par-5 18th hole, a tricky finish with a third shot over a creek and severe slopes around the green. Despite the stumble, her spirits remained high. “Disappointing bogey there at the last, but overall played really well,” she said. “Made a lot of really good putts on the front nine. Greens were getting really firm and some of them aren't very deep, and so was kind of glad I got some on the front nine down and done in the beginning of the day.”
Coughlin’s two wins this season have not only boosted her confidence but also solidified her spot on her first Solheim Cup team. The excitement of representing her country is clearly motivating her. “I remember after Canada I was like, 'I want to do it again,' so I was just thinking, 'Keep doing what I'm doing, don't change anything,'” Coughlin shared, highlighting her simple yet effective approach.
A Big Weekend Ahead
As we head into the next rounds, all eyes will be on these top players as they look to sharpen their games before the Solheim Cup showdown against Europe, set for September 13-15 in Virginia. For Alex, Coughlin, and the rest of the American squad, it’s not just about a win this week but also about building momentum and fine-tuning their play. This tournament might be the perfect warm-up they need, but it also comes with its own set of pressures and challenges, as everyone is watching to see who will step up.
TPC Boston has already shown it won’t be an easy course to conquer, with its demanding layout and slick greens. But for Alex, getting back on track with a solid start, especially after a tough stretch overseas, is a win in itself. Whether she can maintain her form and fend off a stacked field remains to be seen, but she’s certainly given herself a fighting chance. Keep an eye out as the action heats up—this one’s just getting started, and with so much talent in the mix, it’s anyone’s game.
Login