‘Number 1’ Ko Jin-young "Fresh Start with 2 Under Par"… Hariga Leads with 7 Under Par

On Day 1 of the US Women's Open, Kim Se-young and Park Sung-hyun tied for 8th, amateur Lindblad 2nd, Minji Lee 3rd, Thompson 6th

'Number 1' Ko Jin-young is teeing off at the 14th hole on the first day of the US Women's Open. Southern Pines (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The smooth start of 'Number 1' Ko Jin-young (27).

On the 3rd (Korean time), at Pine Needles Lodge Golf Club (Par 71, 6,638 yards) in Southern Pines, North Carolina, USA, the first day of the US Women's Open (total prize money $10 million), known as the 'National Title of the United States,' Ko Jin-young scored 2 under par and stood tied for 8th place. Mina Harigae (USA) leads with 7 under par 64, amateur Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden) is 2nd with 6 under par 65, and Minjee Lee (Australia), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), and Liane O'Toole (USA) are tied for 3rd with 4 under par 67.

Ko Jin-young recorded 3 birdies and 1 bogey. She lost the birdie on the 1st hole (par 5) with a bogey on the 2nd hole, but changed the momentum with a birdie on the 6th hole (par 4). After maintaining par for the next 9 holes, she reduced one stroke on the 16th hole (par 3). She is 5 strokes behind the leader, a position from which a comeback is definitely possible. Ko Jin-young is the world No. 1 and the strongest player dominating the LPGA Tour with a total of 13 wins, including 2 major victories.

She won the Rookie of the Year award in 2018, became the first Korean player to win the money title three consecutive times (2019-2021), and received the Player of the Year award twice (2019, 2021). This year, she has entered the top 10 three times in six tournaments, including a win at the HSBC Women's in March. She skipped last week's Bank of Hope Match Play to prepare steadily for this tournament. She has participated in the US Women's Open five times but has yet to collect the winner's trophy. Her best finish was tied for 2nd in 2020.

Amateur Ingrid Lindblad is teeing off on the 14th hole on the first day of the US Women's Open. Southern Pines, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

Lindblad made 7 birdies (1 bogey). She is ranked 2nd in the world, following 'Amateur Number 1' Rose Zhang (USA). 'Founders Cup Champion' Minjee Lee recorded 7 birdies and 3 bogeys. Lexi Thompson and Ally Ewing (both USA) are tied for 6th place (3 under par 68). Nelly Korda (USA), 'Number 2,' who returned after 4 months following treatment for thrombosis, is tied for 18th place (1 under par 70). Defending champion Yuka Saso (Japan) struggled, tied for 133rd place (6 over par 77).

Korea's Kim Sei-young (Mediheal) and Park Sung-hyun (both 29) joined the tie for 8th place. 'Match Queen' Ji Eun-hee (36, Hanwha Q Cells) is tied for 18th, and 2017 runner-up Choi Hye-jin (23, Lotte) is tied for 28th (even par 71). 'Lotte Championship Champion' Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte) is tied for 47th (1 over par 72), showing signs of moving up the leaderboard. 2019 champion Lee Jeong-eun6 (26, Daebang Construction) is tied for 67th (2 over par 73), and 2020 champion Kim A-lim (27, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 86th (3 over par 74).

2020 Champion Kim A-lim is making a bunker shot on the 10th hole on the first day of the US Women's Open. Southern Pines (USA) = Getty Images / Photo by Multibits

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