SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, FRANCE – Lilia Vu knows she is playing for more than just herself at Le Golf National. One of the female golf’s out-and-out stars over the past two years, the American’s debut at the Olympic Games is much to the credit of her late grandfather.
After a brilliant 2023, which saw her climb to the summit of the world rankings and claim two major titles, Vu is among the favorites for gold at Paris 2024. When she was considering quitting golf during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 due to a crisis in confidence, being here at Le Golf National appeared unfathomable.
But real it is. Despite the disappointment of bogeying the par-5 18th hole on Thursday to record an opening 2-under 70, Vu referred to the well-told story of how her family settled in the United States of America after escaping war-torn Vietnam in the early 1980s in a boat built by her grandfather, Dinh Du.
“I'm playing for my country that kind of saved my family when we needed to get on the boat,” Vu, who was born and raised in California, told reporters Wednesday. “I'm playing for more than just me. I'm trying to give back to my country and earn them a medal.”
On the eve of the 72-hole stroke-play competition, Vu said she felt winning a gold medal would better her triumphs at The Chevron Championship and AIG Women’s Open last year.
And that sentiment was only strengthened by the atmosphere the home crowds generated as she played alongside Celine Boutier, who delighted the home crowds with a brilliant 7-under 65 to hold an early three-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
“It was so cool to see all her fans push really hard for her,” said Vu, who compared the experience to when she played alongside Charley Hull on her way to victory at last year’s AIG Women's Open.
She added: “I think there's just more fans because it's the Olympics. Even non-golf fans are here, I think. I think today was a little more extra.
“But it's really cool to see. They're all pushing hard for (Celine). And it's not like they're rooting against me. They're also clapping for me and supporting me too.”
Vu said she was proud of her performance on a day in which only four holes played under par.
“The greens are firm, and there are a lot of island greens, and you have to place the right shots in the fairway to hit to different types of greens,” Vu said of the challenge posed by the course best known for hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup and the Open de France on the DP World Tour.
“I think it's difficult. You can't really come out here and go on autopilot. You have to think about every single shot, where you want to end up and where's the wind, if it’s a little into from the right or is it off the left helping. All those things matter. So, you kind of have to navigate the course the best way you can.”
When you factor in that Vu didn’t feel great in her warmup, her scorecard of five birdies and three bogeys reads even better.
Asked what was wrong in the lead-up to her first round, she replied: “I wasn't feeling good. I was getting to like imposter syndrome a little bit. I was like, how am I here right now? But it's okay. I'm going to try my best and hopefully can get better.”
This is coming from a player who won her fifth LPGA Tour title at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June, in her return from a two-month injury absence.
“I just get in my own way, right? That's like your own enemy, basically,” Vu said. “But I'll find my way out. I always do.”
That, in part, is down to the inner resolve that dates to her family’s journey to freedom.
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