Maja Stark co-leads in Shanghai, says ‘pressure doesn’t exist’ now on LPGA compared to Solheim

Maja Stark teed off for the first time since the Solheim Cup in Shanghai and couldn’t believe the difference in not only her confidence, but how it felt inside the ropes at a regular LPGA stop.

“When you’re out here, you are usually alone,” said Stark. “Maybe a few people rooting for you. Yeah, feels so nice being able to hit good shots with that pressure. Now pressure doesn’t exist anymore, feels like in normal tournaments.”

Stark opened with a 6-under 66 at the Buick LPGA Shanghai at Qizhong Garden Golf Club to take a share of the early lead with Wichanee Meechai of Thailand.

The LPGA returned to China this week for the first time since 2019 due to ongoing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Danielle Kang, winner of the event in 2018 and 2019, shot 4 under.

“My caddie, Brian, really helped me stay in the moment,” said Kang. “He’s like, it’s only Thursday. Stop looking at the leaderboard. We’re going to end up where you need to end up.”

The 23-year-old Stark posted a 2-1-1 record in her Solheim Cup debut in Spain, where Europe retained the cup in dramatic fashion. Stark partnerd with close friend Linn Grant in foursomes and notched a crucial singles victory over U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz.

“Being able to hit those putts with so much pressure, it just makes you feel like this is the easiest thing ever,” said Stark of being back at a regular event. “Because we don’t have thousands of people watch and a whole continent rooting for you, which is also weird.”

Stark noted that the time away from competition gave her an opportunity to refocus and really process what she’d done throughout the year and at Solheim, where she felt like a much different player.

“I moved on from stuff more quickly,” she said. “I managed to figure stuff out during the round sometimes.

“It felt like every putt was so important, so I just tried to keep that going and keep that out here and just actually think about what it’s for and not just, oh, this is for birdie. No, this is actually – this could be the winning putt.”