Inbee Park’s hopes of a fourth successive Major fade at British Open

World number one Inbee Park’s hopes of a fourth successive Major were dealt a blow when the South Korean shot a one-over-par 73 to finish eight shots off the lead after the second round of the women’s British Open yesterday.

Park, aiming to become the first player of either gender to win four majors in a calendar year, is two-under par for the tournament adrift of compatriot and leader Na Yeon Choi at St Andrews in Scotland.

“A little bit of everything wasn’t really working well out there today, but it was tough conditions,” the 25-year-old, who has never won the tournament, was quoted as saying by the BBC. “I think I grinded (it out) really well out there.” Former US.

Open champion Choi hit six birdies on the way to matching her first-round 67 on the Old Course with her only bogey coming at the seventh to go to 10-under par.

Overnight leader
She is one shot clear of Japan's Miki Saiki (66) and a further stroke ahead of overnight leader Morgan Pressel of the US who is third on eight under after a 70.

Park has won the first three majors of 2013 – the Kraft Nabisco title, LPGA Championship and US Open. Officially, victory this weekend would not constitute a grand slam, since the Evian Masters in September has this year been granted the status of the fifth major. But securing a fourth successive major in a calendar year would be heralded as an unprecedented achievement. Park has already matched the feat of Babe Zaharias in 1950 of winning the first three majors of the year.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen is just three off the lead after a 67 with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew leading the home challenge on two under after a 74. Pettersen said: “I’m very happy with this round. I got off to a fairly quick start, gave myself plenty of chances and don’t feel like I left anything out there really.”