LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England - Hilary Lunke admits she has been basking in the glory of winning the U.S. Women's Open as a qualifier.
Her life became a whirlwind and her golf game suffered.
Now it's time to get back to being competitive, starting with the Women's British Open at Lytham St. Annes, a tricky course she has never played before.
"Going home to see my family was great but, other than that, it's been just a whirlwind and my schedule has been completely changed," said Lunke, who won a three-way playoff. "My mind-set has completely changed. I think it took me a couple of weeks to sink in and regain my focus."
After her Open win, Lunke missed the cut at the Canadian Open, didn't play the Big Apple Classic and last week tied for 64th at the Evian Masters in France.
"I'm finally starting to really take what's happened and move on from that and use it as a learning experience as well as just basking in the glory of it all," Lunke said. "This week I have no more excuses."
Unlike defending champion Karrie Webb and LPGA Championship winner Annika Sorenstam, the 24-year-old Californian has virtually no experience on links golf.
"It's very different golf from what we play in the States," she said. "And I like it. You can be very creative, especially around the greens, and you can hit a whole variety of different kind of shots - bump and runs and what not."
With the wind blowing off the Irish Sea, players figured par might be enough to win the tournament, which begins today.
The course has 198 bunkers and Webb said it has one of the toughest finishes in golf.
TIGER TRICKED: Michelle Fisher got what she wanted, and a little more.
Fisher asked Tiger Woods if she could take a picture with him while he was sitting behind the 16th tee during the pro-am for the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Mich.
When Woods gave her permission, the Auburn Hills woman, in her mid 20s, got her picture. Then she got a little more up close and personal with an embrace and a smooch.
"She just asked for a photo and she gave me a little hug and a kiss on the cheek," Woods said, adding he wasn't scared, just surprised.
FALDO STREAK TO END: Nick Faldo will skip the PGA Championship Aug. 14-17 in Rochester, N.Y., to be with his family, ending the longest current streak of consecutive starts in major tournaments at 65. Faldo, 46, became a father for the fourth time Monday when his wife, Valerie, gave birth to Emma Scarlet. Jack Nicklaus had the longest streak of majors with 146.
