South Korea’s Ina Yoon blazed to a bogey-free, 9-under-par 63 on Thursday to lead after the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Chaska, Minn.
Yoon, in her second year on the LPGA Tour, started on the back nine at Hazeltine National Golf Club and carded birdies at Nos. 14, 15, 17, 18 before another five in a six-hole stretch from Nos. 3-8.
“I didn’t know I’m hitting like that much birdie today,” said Yoon, whose best career finishes were a pair of fourth places in April. “Yeah, it was fun to play out there.”
She hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation, 8 of 14 fairways and just 24 total putts. Afterward, she credited her iron play and putting.
“Just try to think nothing,” Yoon, 23, said of her mindset during the round. “Focus on what I need to do. Focus on process. That part, I think, I did great today.”
Australia’s Karis Davidson is alone in second after a 7-under 65 which began and ended with two of her eight birdies. Davidson, who also started on the back nine, countered her lone bogey at the par-4 No. 6 with a bounce-back birdie at No. 7 and made a 16-foot birdie putt at No. 9.
“I think I just need to keep enjoying it and just try and hit the best shots I can; just really embrace the experience,” Davidson, seeking her first win since joining the tour in 2022, said of being in contention early at a major. “I think it’s pretty special to be up top after Day 1, so I’m just going to embrace it.”
Alexa Pano and South Korea’s A Lim Kim are tied for third after each shot 67. A three-way tie for fifth at 4-under 68 is shared by Megan Khang, South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Germany’s Aline Krauter.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who is pursuing her third consecutive major title this year, shot 2-under 70 and is tied for 19th. She won at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open to kick off the women’s major season.
Korda lost a stroke with a bogey at the par-3 No. 4, then gained it back and more with consecutive birdies at the par-4 sixth and par-5 seventh to make the turn at 1-under 35. Korda birdied Nos. 11, 13 and 15 to get to 4 under before a double bogey at the par-4 16th set her back. Her tee shot there landed in a creek.
She hit 9 of 14 fairways and made 12 of 18 greens in regulation while totaling 28 putts. Korda said she had a “solid” round.
“Honestly just made one bad swing, which ended up in a double. But overall, pretty happy with my day,” Korda said. “… So I put myself into a good position. I’m really happy with the first day. You can’t win it on the first day, but you can definitely lose it. Yeah, just overall happy with a solid start.”
Defending champion Minjee Lee of Australia shot 1-under 71 and is tied for 27th.
The purse of $13 million this week is the largest in women’s golf history, with $1.95 million awarded to the winner.
–Field Level Media
