2 Koreans tied for opening-round lead at LPGA major
Kim A-lim of Korea reacts after putting on the 18th green during the first round of the 2025 Women's US Open golf tournament at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin, Thursday. UPI-Yonhap
Two Korean players are tied for the opening-round lead at the second major tournament of the LPGA season.
Kim A-lim and Im Jin-hee each shot four-under 68 to begin the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills in Erin in southeastern Wisconsin on Thursday (local time). They are in a six-way tie for the lead, with Korean American Yealimi Noh also in this group.
Kim, the 2020 U.S. Women's Open champion, made six birdies against two bogeys on the par-72 course, which played at 6,745 yards Thursday. Kim missed five of 14 fairways but hit 15 greens in regulation, with her round also featuring long birdie putts at No. 1 and No. 3.
Im went bogey-free and made four birdies, all of them on the back nine. She hit 12 fairways and reached 14 greens in regulation.
Kim is going after her fourth career LPGA title and second in 2025, while Im, who joined the tour last year, is in search of her first win.
Kim said being long and accurate off the tee is "really important" at Erin Hills, so that players can take aim at greens from fairways.
As for working on moving the ball both ways during the winter, Kim said: "I can go more aggressively at the pin. I feel more comfortable."
The top of the leaderboard is crowded after the first day, but Kim insisted she couldn't care less about the names up there.
"Honestly, I'm not thinking about the leaderboard because my job is (to focus on) process, not result," Kim said. "The next three days, I will play the same way as today, focus on my line, hit it. That's all."
Im Jin-hee of Korea watches her tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2025 Women's US Open golf tournament at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin, Thursday. UPI-Yonhap
Im said she was "really excited" to come to Erin Hills, a course with "fast but not firm" greens.
"If I can hit the fairways, I can make birdie chances," Im said. "I'm a little nervous. But I think if I play like today, I can do something."
Among other South Koreans, KLPGA star Hwang You-min is one stroke off the lead at three-under after picking up two birdies, one eagle and one bogey.
Ryu Hae-ran, the top South Korean in the world rankings at No. 5, shot three-over 75 in the first round, as did world No. 7 Kim Hyo-joo.