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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Defending champion Minjee Lee of Australia shot 1-under 71 and is tied for 27th.<\/p>\n
The purse of $13 million this week is the largest in women’s golf history, with $1.95 million awarded to the winner.<\/p>\n
–Field Level Media<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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