Pauline Roussin-Bouchard's Hot-Weather Fix: Pep in Your Step

A year ago, the heat in Kuala Lumpur got the better of Pauline Roussin-Bouchard. She shot an 80 in one round and finished tied for 60th. On Thursday she came back to the same course, made one small change to how she walked, and opened with a bogey-free 64 to lead the LPGA's Maybank Championship.

The moment

The Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club was hot and rain-softened for round one. Roussin-Bouchard, a 26-year-old from France still chasing her first LPGA win, birdied her last three holes for an 8-under 64 and a one-shot lead.

What she said afterward is the part worth keeping. Last year's rounds were 71, 80, 70 and 66. "Last year taught me that the heat can make me too calm and sluggish," she said. "It was hard to move through routines. So I made a conscious effort to have a little pep in my walk today, and that was the biggest lesson."

She also named the other half of it: "My challenge today was to keep the inside voice under control and not get ahead of myself."

She followed with a 69 on Friday and sits two shots back, tied for second, going into the weekend. Win or not, she turned a tough week into a plan.

Your first-nine lesson: on hot days, keep your body moving

Heat doesn't just make you sweaty. It makes you slow, and slow can make your swing and your thinking go flat. You don't need a pro's fitness plan. You just need a few small habits.

• Walk with a little purpose. Not rushing, just lively. Between shots, keep a steady pace so your body stays awake. It helps your group's pace too.
• Warm up, even when it's warm. A few easy stretches and swings with your 56° wedge wake up the muscles you'll use. Our warm-up guide takes about ten minutes.
• Pack for the heat. Water, a hat, sunscreen and a small towel go a long way. Our what to bring guide has the full list.
• Quiet the inside voice. Like Roussin-Bouchard, don't add up the score early. The next shot is all that matters.

And if a hot round went badly last time, that's not a verdict. It's notes for next time.

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• What to bring to your first round of golf
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• Start here

Sources

• New Straits Times (Bernama), "Roussin-Bouchard seizes Maybank lead with flawless 64," Oct 29, 2026
• Sky Sports (AP), "Maybank Championship: England's Charley Hull two shots off lead...," Oct 29, 2026
• AP via WTOP, "Maybank Championship Scores," Oct 30, 2026
• Golf Post, "Maybank Championship: Yamashita leads by two after second-round 66,"

Facts are taken from the official and news sources above. Players are named with respect; no player photos or video are used on this page.