Mariajo Uribe hits a tee shot on Wednesday at Le Golf National.
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Surely, Mariajo Uribe is reconsidering.
Her begin Wednesday will need to have satisfied her. She birdied 1. And 2. And 4 at Le Golf National. She was rolling. But if that hadn’t accomplished the trick, her end would’ve. On the demanding par-5 18th, she birdied once more. And when issues had been wrapped up after day one on the Olympics, Uribe was tied for third, 5 pictures from the highest.
She couldn’t probably comply with via now on what she’d pledged, proper?
Nope, nonetheless is.
Come Saturday, no matter whether or not a gold, silver or bronze medal is hanging round her neck, Uribe’s retiring.
“I mean, one of my idols is Lorena Ochoa,” Uribe mentioned, “and she went out as No. 1 on the earth, and I at all times thought that was so nice, like simply ending on a excessive be aware.
“This year has been really special for me, and to finish with a good week here would make it an even better retirement week.”
Unexpectedly, it’s been considerably like a multi-year victory lap for Uribe.
The 34-year-old from Colombia had been prepared to hold up her golf sneakers after the 2020 Games in Tokyo. It was time, she felt. In 2007, Uribe gained the U.S. Women’s Am. In faculty, at UCLA, she was a two-time first-team All-American. In July of 2009, Uribe turned professional, and she’s gained over $2 million on the LPGA Tour, with 14 career high 10s to her title. But then the 2020 Olympics had been postponed a 12 months as a consequence of Covid. And within the months earlier than these rescheduled Games, she had a child boy.
So she performed on, with an eye fixed on this 12 months.
“We decided as a family to give it another try for Paris,” Uribe mentioned. “So it’s been 4 years too lengthy already.
“So I’m ready for it, but I’m excited for the week to come.”
Of course, Uribe nonetheless wanted to qualify for the Games, and, as you may surmise, the story will get higher. In March, looking for wanted factors, she entered the Women’s NSW Open in Australia — the place she birdied her ultimate gap to win the Ladies European Tour occasion by a stroke.
Prior to that, she’d gained as soon as professionally, on the 2011 HSBC Brazil Cup, which was an unofficial LPGA occasion.
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“I have felt internal pressure for sure because it takes courage to come here too,” Uribe told the Ladies European Tour website after the victory. “I’m not a member, so to write down the emails and attempt to get invitations. You may come right here, and also you may not make the reduce.
“Even last year, I played on the LET and LET Access Series to get some opportunities to play. We will see, but I’m pretty sure this will clutch it out and I will be in Paris for now. My husband is happy because I don’t have to do a crazy schedule anymore. It’s nice to get a win after so many years, it’s a nice icing on the cake.”
There may be extra.
Wednesday was particular. The early birdies. The late one, which helped her bounce again from a bogey on 17. She additionally led the sphere in driving distance, at 283 yards, although not on the expense of accuracy — she hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens. The spherical adopted a tie for fiftieth on the 2021 Games, and a tie for nineteenth on the 2016 Games in Rio, the place golf was a part of the Olympic schedule for the primary time since 1904.
“I had a decent round, some not so great mistakes and bogeys I shouldn’t have made,” Uribe mentioned. “But I’m proper in there. I do know I can shoot low. You must hit it good off the tee right here, and my driver is fairly good proper now.
“So just stay in contention. Of course a medal will be great, but just enjoy this week and see what happens.”
But no, she says she’s re-evaluating.
After Paris, she says she will say au revoir.
“This is my third Olympics, but Paris feels different,” Uribe mentioned. “The environment is unbelievable. Watching the blokes end on Sunday was nice. The crowds are superb. I’m not part of Solheim Cup, however that is in all probability the closest I’m going to get to. The course is unbelievable.
“I’m really happy with the decision I made, and it’s been an amazing week so far.”
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