Christina Kim, on the LPGA Tour since 2003, is appearing in her fourth U.S. Women’s Open this week at Cherry Hills Country Club. She tied for 27^th in 2003, her best finish in the championship. Kim holds the USGA record for lowest 18-hole score in a USGA competition when she shot 8-under 62 during the 2001 U.S. Girls’ Junior. She shares her thoughts with www.uswomensopen.com:

It hit in the fairway and I’d hit a lob wedge over the green or I’d hit the fairway and I’d hit a sand wedge over the green. I’m tracking the flag, but I guess I really haven’t got used to the altitude.  I guess 15 hours on the range is not enough time to get adjusted to the altitude changes or the yardage changes.

Also my emotions are running high with it being a U.S. Open and that doesn’t help when you’re just trying to be calm and focus on each shot. But it took nine holes to warm up -- in all honesty, maybe 7 ½ or 8 holes, but it took me awhile.

Once I found the greens I didn’t putt very well either.  The greens are very tricky and they put the pins in some really nasty places and it’s not just all me.  It’s not unfair, but if you put yourself in the wrong places on the greens you’re in big trouble.  That’s what I realized today. That’s why on the  back nine I was trying to be a little bit less aggressive, trying to keep myself below the hole more often, but it still didn’t work because I’m hitting my 9-iron 160 yards and my 7-iron 195; I’m still trying to get adjusted to the altitude.  But it’s more within me than anything else.

I feel like I’m 9 over; I deserve every stroke over par that I am.

Tonight I will go home, grab a quick bite and go to sleep since I have an early time tomorrow to finish my round and then I go right back out.  But my goal tomorrow is just to play well; I go out there and try on every shot and give it my all.  I play with nothing with heart and whatever ends up happening is whatever ends up happening.  

I think my life experiences will help get through today.  Living life teaches you to get over it and move on and that’s what I will do tomorrow.