Kim A-lim Leads Five-Way Tie After Opening Round at U.S. Women’s Open

Posted : 30 May 2025

Former U.S. Women's Open champion Kim A-lim made a strong start to her campaign by carding a four-under-par 68, finishing the opening round tied with five others at the top of the leaderboard at Erin Hills.

The South Korean golfer, who claimed the title in 2020, fired six birdies across her round and emphasized her focus on the process rather than the outcome. Joining her at the summit were compatriot Im Jin-hee, Japan's Rio Takeda, Americans Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin, and Spanish rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez—all finishing one shot ahead of a closely packed group at three-under.

The first round saw generally favorable conditions on the expansive Erin Hills course in Wisconsin, allowing for solid scoring opportunities. Yealimi Noh capitalized by sinking an eagle on the 14th and finishing strong with a birdie on the 18th, describing the round as a “good scoring day.”

Despite the benign conditions, many of the tournament's biggest names struggled. World number one Nelly Korda had to fight back from an early bogey and finished at even par. Defending champion Yuka Saso posted a 74, while Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko also failed to break par.

Kim maintained her composure with a confident rhythm, picking up early birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, and adding more on 16 and 17. She reached five-under with long putts on the first and third holes but dropped a shot at the sixth.

Meanwhile, Takeda maintained consistency with three birdies and a bogey on each side, and Im recorded a run of birdies from the 10th to the 14th after nine steady pars. Lopez Ramirez, playing in her first U.S. Open, delivered an error-free round, impressive considering her limited experience and recent health setback.

Lopez Ramirez described her bogey-free performance as her first since turning professional, making it a memorable debut at the major. Angel Yin, another late starter, bounced back from an early bogey with five birdies, three of them coming in a row between the eighth and tenth holes.

A stumble at the 17th tested her resilience, but she recovered with a birdie at the last to regain a share of the lead. As the second round looms, the leaderboard remains tightly contested, promising more drama ahead in the 80th edition of the championship.

Kim A-lim Leads Five-Way Tie After Opening Round at U.S. Women’s Open

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