Angel Yin Leads U.S. Women's Open with 4-under 68 in First Round

Angel Yin, a 26-year-old American golfer, made a 13½-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole to share the lead at the U.S. Women's Open. Yin used a new putter for the first time in a tournament, which she started experimenting with a month ago. She tied for second in 2019 and missed the cut last year. Lopez Ramirez, a Spaniard, also made a surprise appearance in the early leaders, having won back-to-back SEC titles in 2023 and 2024.

ERIN, Wisconsin — Angel Yin, a 26-year-old American golfer, made a significant impact at the U.S. Women's Open with a 13½-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole, sharing the lead after the first round. Yin, who qualified for the tournament as a 13-year-old, has had a rollercoaster career at this event. She tied for second in 2019 but missed the cut last year with a pair of 75s.

Yin's performance was notable for her use of a new putter, which she started experimenting with a month ago. The putter, which she believes will hold the ground and do what she wants, proved effective in her first tournament outing with the club. She described her experience with the new putter as "lucky" [1].

Joining Yin in the early lead is Julia Lopez Ramirez, a Spaniard who won back-to-back Southeastern Conference titles in 2023 and 2024. Lopez Ramirez's performance at the U.S. Women's Open is particularly impressive given her major setback earlier this year when she was diagnosed with appendicitis. She made a surprise appearance among the early leaders, having a bogey-free round in her tournament debut [1].

The first round at Erin Hills saw a total of 38 golfers in red numbers, indicating scores under par. The course's difficulty is often based on wind strength, and with relatively calm conditions early on Thursday, many players were able to post low scores. Nelly Korda, the world's top-ranked player, had a 72, which was better than her opening round last year when she missed the cut [1].

As the tournament progresses, the competition is expected to heat up. The course has proven to be forgiving when there is little wind, with Brooks Koepka winning the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills during a relatively calm week [1]. The cut for the tournament will come after the second round to the low 60 scorers and ties.

References:
[1] https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/45382817/6-way-tie-1st-round-lead-us-women-open-erin-hills