Jennifer Kupcho made a strong start to golf’s second women’s major of the year as she leads the US Women’s Open by one shot after the first round on Thursday.
The 29-year-old American fired a five-under 66 at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles to lead from South Korea’s Kim Sei-Young.
Kupcho said that took “a little bit of a weight off my chest” after missing the cut at this event in the past three years.
Kupcho, whose only previous major title came at the Chevron Championship in 2022, opened with three straight birdies and finished with seven overall, along with two bogeys.
“It’s kind of a ball-striker’s paradise – just hit it down the fairway, hit it on the green and make the putts,” she said.
“I was hitting the ball well today, also rolling the ball really well with the putter, so [that] definitely helped with the confidence with my putter.”
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and one-time major winner Hinako Shibuno, of Japan, are among a group of five that are tied for third place, two shots off the lead.
World number one Nelly Korda, who won the year’s opening major in April, was a little off the pace with a round of 73.
“I just felt like I was grinding to make safe pars,” said the American. “It wasn’t a great day. I have honestly no idea where this came from.”
She was joined on two-over by world number two Atthaya Thitikul and the English quintet of Charley Hull, Mimi Rhodes, Bronte Law, Lottie Woad and Nellie Ong.
The event is taking place on the Los Angeles course that hosts the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational and will be the golf venue for the 2028 Olympics.