By Newspot Nigeria | Erin Hills, Wisconsin | May 29, 2025
The 80th U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally exploded into action Thursday at Erin Hills, as the course quickly reminded the field of 156 why it remains one of the most demanding tests in golf. After a gripping first round, six players are tied for the lead at 4-under-par 68, setting up what promises to be a thrilling fight to the finish.
Sharing the top spot are:
- Rio Takeda 🇯🇵
- Yealimi Noh 🇺🇸
- Jinhee Im 🇰🇷
- Angel Yin 🇺🇸
- Julia Lopez Ramirez 🇪🇸
- A Lim Kim 🇰🇷 (2020 U.S. Women’s Open champion)
Erin Hills—wind-swept and wide-open—may appear benign, but its hidden slopes, punishing collection areas, and brutal green complexes make it anything but forgiving. As USGA’s Shannon Rouillard hinted, the wind showed up, and so did the drama.
🔥 A Round of Surges and Stumbles
Takeda, who began on the back nine, made a scorching run between holes 14 and 18 with six birdies and two bogeys. “Patience is very important,” she said, noting that the U.S. Women’s Open is unlike any other event she’s played.
Noh soared late with a birdie on 13, a stunning eagle on the par-5 14th, and a closing birdie at 18 to reach -4. “Everything’s big at Erin Hills,” she said. “The fairways, the walks, the shots—you’ve got to show up with a big game.”
Im, meanwhile, turned in a bogey-free card, making four birdies in a five-hole stretch after opening with nine straight pars. Kim played holes 16 through 4 at 4-under, while Angel Yin impressed with birdies on two of the toughest holes—Nos. 8 and 9—before bouncing back from a bogey at 17 with a birdie at 18.
One shot back at 69 (-3) are strong contenders like Nasa Hataoka, Chiara Tamburlini, Yui Kawamoto, and Christo Iwai.
🌪️ Legends Face Uphill Battle
- Nelly Korda, the world’s top-ranked player, carded a 72 and sits four back.
- Lydia Ko, chasing the final piece of her LPGA major puzzle, made a costly double bogey on No. 1 and ended with a 1-over 73.
- Defending champion Yuka Saso, hoping to join the likes of Annika Sorenstam and Babe Zaharias with three U.S. Open titles, is on the brink of the cut at +4 (74).
The cut will be made after Friday’s round to the low 60 players and ties, meaning big names like Saso and Tseng must deliver under pressure to stay in the hunt.
👀 Notables & Quotables
- Yani Tseng, in her first Open since 2016, surged early but faded with six bogeys in her last 11 holes to finish at 75. “I haven’t putted greens this fast in nine years,” she admitted.
- The front nine of Erin Hills played more than a stroke and a half tougher than the back, with holes 8 and 9 emerging as day one’s cruelest tests.
Quotes from the Fairways:
🗣️ “I was saved by good putting. It seems like it was a completely different person playing the back nine.” — Hinako Shibuno
🗣️ “We had a plan—where to attack and where to defend. I was able to play it just as we planned.” — Nasa Hataoka
🗣️ “This is the tournament I want to win most… everything has to be perfect—putting, shot-making, management.” — A Lim Kim
As the sun sets on Round 1, one thing is clear: Erin Hills won’t give up the U.S. Women’s Open title easily. With over 50 players within four strokes of the lead, golf fans are in for a classic.
Stay with Newspot Nigeria for full coverage, exclusive highlights, and inspiring stories as the world’s best women golfers battle for the crown of champions.
🏆 Glory is calling. Will history answer?
#USWomensOpen #ErinHills #LPGA #NellyKorda #YukaSaso #LydiaKo #NewspotNigeria #GolfHistory #WomenInSports
