Ina Yoon has announced herself on the biggest stage. The 23-year-old South Korean fired a stunning 9-under 63 on Thursday to match the lowest round in KPMG Women’s PGA Championship history and take a two-stroke lead after the opening round at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
Yoon birdied five of her last six holes, taking just 24 putts in a round that left even herself lost for words.
“To be honest, I don’t know,” she said smiling. “I just hit golf ball and it just dropped in the hole and was really an awesome experience.”
A Record-Tying Performance
Ina Yoon’s 63 matched scores previously posted by Nelly Korda in the second round of 2021 and Patty Sheehan in the third round of 1984. Six players have now shot 63 in this championship, with Yoon joining Korda, Sei Young Kim, Kelly Shon, Meg Mallon, and Sheehan on that list.
The round also ranks as the fourth-best opening round at any women’s major since at least 1980, trailing only Hyo Joo Kim’s 61 at the 2014 Evian Championship, Mirim Lee’s 61 at the 2016 Women’s British Open, and Lorena Ochoa’s 62 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Yoon is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory and currently sits 39th in the world rankings. Her mental approach was simple but effective.
“Just try to think nothing. Focus on what I need to do. Focus on process. That part I think I did great today,” she said.
The Story Behind Yoon
Ina Yoon’s journey to this moment has not been straightforward. Four years ago she was suspended by the Korean Golf Association and KLPGA for playing the wrong ball and failing to report it during her national open. The three-year ban was eventually reduced and she returned to the tour in 2024, immediately topping the Korean money list and posting the lowest scoring average of the season.
“Whatever the punishment was as a player, it was my fault at the end of the day, so I took that on,” Yoon told Golfweek.
She joined the LPGA in 2025 and has steadily improved, ranking 29th in strokes gained putting this season after finishing 132nd in her rookie year. Earlier in 2026 she contended at the Chevron Championship, finishing tied fourth.
The Rest of the Leaderboard
Karis Davidson of Australia sits two shots back after a career-best 65, carding eight birdies in a bogey-free round. The 27-year-old, who has made cuts in 15 straight tournaments, is also chasing her first LPGA Tour victory.
“Hit a lot of fairways. Hit a lot of greens. Putting was pretty on today. Really felt like I was going to hole everything,” Davidson said.
Alexa Pano and A Lim Kim are tied for third at 67, with Aline Krauter, Hye-Jin Choi, and Megan Kang a shot further back at 68.
World number one Nelly Korda, chasing history as only the third woman to win the first three majors of a season, opened with a 2-under 70 after a double bogey on the lakeside par-4 16th. Inbee Park in 2013 and Babe Zaharias in 1950 are the only women to have won the first three majors in a single calendar year. Jeeno Thitikul, the world number two, shot a 69.
