This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
JONATHAN LINDEN - REPORTER (JL): I'm Jonathan Linden for KAZU News, standing on the grounds at Pebble Beach Golf Links overlooking hole three. Today, the first round of the U.S. Women's Open kicks off here at Pebble Beach. This is the first time the historic golf course has hosted the open. Kay Cockerill is a golf journalist with NBC Golf and a former professional golfer. She says having the U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach...
KAY COCKERILL (KC): It's huge. This golf course is renowned. It's hosted numerous men's national championships. And so for the women to now be playing this golf course, this is so meaningful because we've been waiting for this for decades. And yes, you could lament the fact that, why hadn't this happened earlier? But the fact is, it's better late than never. And they're here now and they're playing. And I'm jealous that these women are out here getting to play this golf course. I wish it happened 25 or 30 years ago when I could have possibly been in the field trying for this championship on my favorite golf course in the entire world. But I'm also happy to hold a microphone and be out walking the fairways, calling the golf.
JL: And Kay, with play starting today. Who are some of the top golfers that our listeners should be keeping an eye out for?
KC: First and foremost, Jin Young Ko. She is the number one player in women's golf and she's held that position for a record, I think, 158 weeks now. She's from South Korea, representing a very strong contingent from Korea, from the American side of things. Nelly Korda is probably the player that has the best hopes for being that next dominant American. But now a newcomer on the scene, Rose Zhang, who is from Southern California, born and raised but went to Stanford University for two years and is going to continue her education there. She is the biggest thing in golf right now because she made her pro debut a couple of weeks ago at the Mizuho Americas and won. And no one had done that in over 70 years.
JL: Can you discuss the type of terrain and weather golfers may face while playing here at Pebble.
KC: As a Northern Californian who grew up in coastal California, I'm used to the overcast conditions. The fog that that generally hangs over the the golf course in this area. Maybe it'll pull back, maybe we'll see a little bit of sunshine. They're calling for some higher winds starting Friday, Saturday, Sunday, which means maybe upwards of 20 miles an hour. That will make the golf course play so much harder. Any time you add the element of wind into the situation — and I don't care if you're the top men or the top women in the world — it becomes much harder to control the golf ball. And this golf course has very small greens and so you have to be really precise.
JL: Things are just getting started here. But has there been anything particularly surprising for you that you've seen here at the course since you've gotten here.
KC: In talking to a lot of the players, I'm really amazed that most of them have never been here and they're stepping on this property for the first time. And it's been really cool to see their reactions. Like, they've seen it on TV, they've seen it in photos and read about it, but to actually step on the property with your golf clubs in your hand and be able to play this, I've just seen smiles all over the women's faces. And I think even those that maybe don't bring their best game and missed the cut and don't get to play on the weekend are still going to have an experience of a lifetime.
JL: NBC Golf commentator Kay Cockerill. The U.S. Women's Open will be happening now through Sunday, July 9th.