Ina Yoon Fires Record-Tying 63 to Lead Women's PGA Championship

A Star Emerges at Hazeltine

Sometimes you witness a round of golf that makes you sit up and take notice of a name you might have overlooked. That's exactly what happened on day one of the Women's PGA Championship, where 23-year-old Ina Yoon absolutely torched Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota with a bogey-free, nine-under-par 63.

Yoon, who's only in her second year on the LPGA Tour and has never finished higher than fourth in a tour event, played like a seasoned champion. Nine birdies. Zero bogeys. The kind of ball-striking display that leaves veteran observers shaking their heads in disbelief.

"It was fun to play out there," Yoon said afterward, offering the kind of understated assessment that belies just how remarkable her performance truly was. "I'm just trying to think of nothing. Focus on what I need to do. Focus on process. That part, I think, I did great."

The Chasing Pack Takes Shape

Australia's Karis Davidson finds herself in solo second after posting a seven-under 65, a strong round by any measure but still two shots back of Yoon's blistering pace. South Korea's A-Lim Kim and American Alexa Pano are tied for third at five-under par, with Germany's Anna Krauter, South Korea's Haeran Choi, and American Megan Khang lurking at four-under.

The depth of talent near the top of the leaderboard suggests we're in for a compelling weekend, but Yoon's seven-shot cushion over world number one Nelly Korda tells the story of just how dominant her opening salvo truly was.

Korda's Major Hat-Trick Bid Hits a Snag

Speaking of Korda, the four-time major winner who captured both the Chevron Championship in April and the US Women's Open earlier this month entered Hazeltine with history on her mind. A third consecutive major victory would cement her status as the most dominant force in women's golf.

Instead, she finds herself in a share of 19th place at two-under par after a round that included five birdies but also a costly double bogey on the 16th hole.

"Honestly just made one bad swing, which ended up in a double. But overall, pretty happy with my day," Korda said, maintaining the composed perspective that's served her well throughout her career. "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. Overall happy with a solid start."

She's not wrong about that philosophy, but seven shots is a significant deficit to overcome, even for a player of her caliber.

British Hopes and Historic Purse

England's Esther Henseleit's compatriot Ellie Woad also sits at two-under, matching Korda's position. However, it was a tougher day for several other British and Irish players, with Charley Hull, Meg Rhodes, Gemma Dryburgh, and Leona Maguire's countrywoman Leona Walsh all finishing at one-over par.

It's worth noting the stakes at play this week. The $13 million purse represents the largest in women's golf history, with the champion set to pocket $1.95 million. That kind of payday adds an extra layer of pressure to every shot, making Yoon's nerveless performance even more impressive.

What to Watch Moving Forward

Three rounds remain, and if we've learned anything from major championship golf, it's that 54 holes is an eternity. Yoon has never closed out a tournament at this level, and the pressure will only intensify as the weekend approaches.

But there's something about the way she carried herself on Thursday—the calmness, the process-focused mentality, the ability to simply make birdie after birdie without ever putting herself in trouble—that suggests she might just be ready for her breakthrough moment.

Korda, meanwhile, isn't going anywhere. She's been in similar positions before and knows exactly what it takes to mount a comeback. Don't count out the world's best player just yet.

Key Takeaways

• Yoon's 63 was flawless—nine birdies, zero bogeys, and a two-shot lead heading into round two
• Korda remains in contention at two-under despite a double bogey, but faces a seven-shot deficit
• The record $13 million purse ensures every player will be fighting for every stroke this weekend
• Davidson, Kim, and Pano are all within striking distance and could emerge as serious contenders