The U.S. Women’s Open opened with a bang! No ordinary round Six golfers, including Angel Yin, were tied atop the lead after the first round. The exclusive Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, was the idyllic setting for an incredible tournament. Yin, A Lim Kim, Jinhee Im, Yealimi Noh and Julia Lopez Ramirez with the fireworks on International Exhibit Day 🔥💥 Each birdied four-under 68.
Perhaps no player was more surprising than 26-year-old Californian Angel Yin, who stole the show with history-making scoring. She captivated the world with her dramatic choice to test a new putter. She only started using this particular putter about a month ago, and Thursday was the first time she used it in a major tournament. Yin expressed her confidence in the new equipment, stating, “I know U.S. Open is going to be extremely fast, so I wanted to find a putter that will hold the ground and just do what I want it to do.”
Yin sealed her place at the top of the leaderboard with a stunning 13 1/2-foot birdie putt. She achieved this improbable double on the daunting, dogleg-right par-5 18th hole. This was a big turnaround for her after failing to make the cut last year with 75s. Yin had an incredible start to the year. She has never placed higher than a tie for eighth in the U.S. Women’s Open.
A Lim Kim tied Yin for the lead at the top after stunningly rolling in two long birdie putts. Other equally improbable putts included a 42 1/2 footer on No. 1 and a 32 1/2 footer on No. 14. Kim’s knack to cash in on opportunities would prove to be the tone of her strong competitive round. Yealimi Noh highlighted the importance of the course setup, noting, “There are some tees out that are pulled up, and a lot of the par-5s, I think all of them are reachable.”
Jinhee Im put on a stunning performance! She notched the only bogey-free round of the day and carded birdies on four straight holes from Nos. 10 to 14. The composure of each and every player under enormous pressure was palpable as they worked their way around the unforgiving course conditions.
Of those newcomers, Julia Lopez Ramirez certainly made her U.S. Women’s Open debut one to remember with a bogey-free round. She’s been through appendicitis this year and recovered like a champ. Lopez Ramirez’s top finish in previous events this year is a T29. She’s certainly not letting up, having already won back-to-back Southeastern Conference crowns at Mississippi State in 2023 and 2024.
Lopez Ramirez expressed her growing confidence after her successful round, stating, “I feel like my confidence is coming back.” If the way she played in the U.S. Women’s Open becomes a turning point, her career will take on a new trajectory.
While most players took advantage of the warm, calm conditions on Thursday, several of the more recognizable names fell flat. Can Yuka Saso defend her title and win her third U.S. Women’s Open championship? She ran into some tough spots and ended with a 74. The competition is fierce. Only a pair of players broke par at last year’s championship, contested at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, as the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on these top players. Will they be able to maintain their surge and take home the championship belt? U.S. Women’s Open showcases future stars who are all set to break through the scene. Meanwhile, at the same time, experienced veterans such as P.J.
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