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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Yealimi Noh, who stuck with the broomstick putter, is tied for lead at U.S. Women's Open
Yealimi Noh, who stuck with the broomstick putter, is tied for lead at U.S. Women's Open ERIN, Wis. — It's been about two years since Yealimi Noh switched to a broomstick putter. Both her father and coach suggested that she give it a try after several months of struggling with the yips. 'I didn't know what to do, and I just needed something completely different,' said Noh, who holds a share of the first-round lead at the 80th U.S. Women's Open after an opening 4-under 68. Noh is one of four players who finished a mostly calm morning wave knotted at the top of the board. She's joined by 2020 U.S. Women's Open champ A Lim Kim, hotshot rookie Rio Takeda and the promising young South Korean, Jinhee Im. The yips have been a hot topic this week as former No. 1 Yani Tseng is here putting left-handed. Noh actually tried that too a few weeks ago just by chance on the practice putting green. 'I was like, oh it's actually better than you think,' she said. 'It's not as crazy as it looks.' Noh, who holed out for eagle from 42 yards on the par-5 14th, took 28 putts in the opening round with the L.A.B. putter that helped turn around her game. Noh ranked 130th in putts per green in regulation on tour in 2022 and 102nd in 2023. She finished last season ranked 30th in putts per GIR. In February, Noh won for the first time on the LPGA in her 111th career start at the Founders Cup. The victory boosted her confidence and took 'a lot of pressure off my back.' California's Noh actually has some good history here in Wisconsin, where she reports that she's enjoying her cheese. After turning professional at age 17 without status on any tour, the former U.S. Girls' Junior champ Monday-qualified her way into the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. After opening rounds of 63-65, Noh found herself in the final pairing. 'I don't think I could have started my career any better,' said Noh of her first LPGA start, which resulted in a top 10. She was supremely confident and fearless back then, blissfully unaware of how cruel the game can become. Now, at age 23, she's already wise enough to be grateful for the speedbumps that led her to the first-round lead of a major. Other players asked to try out her long putter before she won a tournament and rose to No. 18 in the world, and these days, it happens on a weekly basis. 'Some players have already asked me about it,' said Noh, 'can I try it again? I'm like you asked me this a couple months ago. Now they're like, oh, can I like try it, try it?' Should she go on to win this week at Erin Hills, long putters might become all the rage.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Four share early lead in first round of U.S. Women's Open
ERIN, Wis. — Jinhee Im, A Lim Kim, Yealimi Noh and Rio Takeda each carded 4-under 68 to tie for the lead after the morning groupings Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills. Those scores are notable because only two players finished under par in last year's U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, with Yuka Saso posting a winning four-round total of 4-under 276. Saso, who is seeking her third U.S. Women's Open title, posted a 74 on Thursday. Advertisement Noh said the low scores at the 6,829-yard, par-72 course didn't surprise her. Erin Hills' difficulty often is based on the strength of the wind, and it was relatively calm early Thursday. 'There are some tees out that are pulled up, and a lot of the par-5s, I think all of them are reachable,' Noh said. 'Some par-3s were shorter than normal. So, I think for sure, with the minimal wind today, it was definitely a good scoring day.' Kim, 29, is seeking her second U.S. Women's Open title after winning this event in 2020 at Champions Golf Club in Houston. She's the only golfer among the four leaders who already has won a U.S. Women's Open. Takeda started at No. 10 and made six birdies in a nine-hole stretch from No. 14 through No. 4 to make up for her bogeys at No. 17 and No. 2. Noh benefited from an eagle at No. 14, a par-5, 510-yard hole. Im had a bogey-free round that included four birdies in a span of five holes from No. 10 through No. 14. Kim made birdie putts of 42 feet on No. 1 and 32 feet on No. 4. Advertisement 'That course condition is really good,' Im said. 'I think green speed is really, really fast, but not firm. So if I can hit the fairway, I can (get) the birdie chance.' Chisato Iwai was fifth with a 69. Hinako Shibuno, Maja Stark and Pajaree Anannarukarn each posted a 70. 'It was nice that today's wind is not as bad as the practice rounds,' Shibuno said. 'Also, that yesterday's rain was helpful. I think when it went on the green that the ball should stop, it stopped. So that was good.' Jeeno Thitikul, the world's second-ranked player, carded a 75. She started at No. 10 and bogeyed four of her first six holes, including three straight from No. 11 through No. 13. She bounced back by making three consecutive birdies on No. 18, No. 1 and No. 2, then bogeyed No. 4 and No. 9. Advertisement Lydia Ko, who is ranked third in the world, posted a 73 that included a double bogey on the par-5 No. 1. This year's U.S. Women's Open comes during a season notable for its balance — there has been a different winner at each of the LPGA Tour's 12 events. As the most lucrative tournament of the season, the U.S. Women's Open features a $12 million purse, with $2.4 million going to the winner. The list of players ranked in the top 10 teeing off Thursday afternoon included Nelly Korda (first), Ruoning Yin (fourth), Hyo Joo Kim (seventh) and Jin Young Ko (10th).
5 days ago
- Sport
US Women's Open features four-way tie for lead after first round's morning groupings
ERIN, Wis. -- Jinhee Im, A Lim Kim, Yealimi Noh and Rio Takeda each carded 4-under 68 to tie for the lead after the morning groupings Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills. Those scores are notable because only two players finished under par in last year's U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, with Yuka Saso posting a winning four-round total of 4-under 276. Saso, who is seeking her third U.S. Women's Open title, posted a 74 on Thursday. Noh said the low scores at the 6,829-yard, par-72 course didn't surprise her. Erin Hills' difficulty often is based on the strength of the wind, and it was relatively calm early Thursday. 'There are some tees out that are pulled up, and a lot of the par-5s, I think all of them are reachable,' Noh said. 'Some par-3s were shorter than normal. So, I think for sure, with the minimal wind today, it was definitely a good scoring day.' Kim, 29, is seeking her second U.S. Women's Open title after winning this event in 2020 at Champions Golf Club in Houston. She's the only golfer among the four leaders who already has won a U.S. Women's Open. Takeda started at No. 10 and made six birdies in a nine-hole stretch from No. 14 through No. 4 to make up for her bogeys at No. 17 and No. 2. Noh benefited from an eagle at No. 14, a par-5, 510-yard hole. Im had a bogey-free round that included four birdies in a span of five holes from No. 10 through No. 14. Kim made birdie putts of 42½ feet on No. 1 and 32½ feet on No. 4. 'That course condition is really good,' Im said. 'I think green speed is really, really fast, but not firm. So if I can hit the fairway, I can (get) the birdie chance.' Chisato Iwai was fifth with a 69. Hinako Shibuno, Maja Stark and Pajaree Anannarukarn each posted a 70. 'It was nice that today's wind is not as bad as the practice rounds,' Shibuno said. 'Also, that yesterday's rain was helpful. I think when it went on the green that the ball should stop, it stopped. So that was good.' Jeeno Thitikul, the world's second-ranked player, carded a 75. She started at No. 10 and bogeyed four of her first six holes, including three straight from No. 11 through No. 13. She bounced back by making three consecutive birdies on No. 18, No. 1 and No. 2, then bogeyed No. 4 and No. 9. Lydia Ko, who is ranked third in the world, posted a 73 that included a double bogey on the par-5 No. 1. This year's U.S. Women's Open comes during a season notable for its balance — there has been a different winner at each of the LPGA Tour's 12 events. As the most lucrative tournament of the season, the U.S. Women's Open features a $12 million purse, with $2.4 million going to the winner. The list of players ranked in the top 10 teeing off Thursday afternoon included Nelly Korda (first), Ruoning Yin (fourth), Hyo Joo Kim (seventh) and Jin Young Ko (10th).
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Four share early lead in first round of U.S. Women's Open
ERIN, Wis. — Jinhee Im, A Lim Kim, Yealimi Noh and Rio Takeda each carded 4-under 68 to tie for the lead after the morning groupings Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills. Those scores are notable because only two players finished under par in last year's U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, with Yuka Saso posting a winning four-round total of 4-under 276. Saso, who is seeking her third U.S. Women's Open title, posted a 74 on Thursday. Noh said the low scores at the 6,829-yard, par-72 course didn't surprise her. Erin Hills' difficulty often is based on the strength of the wind, and it was relatively calm early Thursday. 'There are some tees out that are pulled up, and a lot of the par-5s, I think all of them are reachable,' Noh said. 'Some par-3s were shorter than normal. So, I think for sure, with the minimal wind today, it was definitely a good scoring day.' Kim, 29, is seeking her second U.S. Women's Open title after winning this event in 2020 at Champions Golf Club in Houston. She's the only golfer among the four leaders who already has won a U.S. Women's Open. Takeda started at No. 10 and made six birdies in a nine-hole stretch from No. 14 through No. 4 to make up for her bogeys at No. 17 and No. 2. Noh benefited from an eagle at No. 14, a par-5, 510-yard hole. Im had a bogey-free round that included four birdies in a span of five holes from No. 10 through No. 14. Kim made birdie putts of 42 feet on No. 1 and 32 feet on No. 4. 'That course condition is really good,' Im said. 'I think green speed is really, really fast, but not firm. So if I can hit the fairway, I can (get) the birdie chance.' Chisato Iwai was fifth with a 69. Hinako Shibuno, Maja Stark and Pajaree Anannarukarn each posted a 70. 'It was nice that today's wind is not as bad as the practice rounds,' Shibuno said. 'Also, that yesterday's rain was helpful. I think when it went on the green that the ball should stop, it stopped. So that was good.' Jeeno Thitikul, the world's second-ranked player, carded a 75. She started at No. 10 and bogeyed four of her first six holes, including three straight from No. 11 through No. 13. She bounced back by making three consecutive birdies on No. 18, No. 1 and No. 2, then bogeyed No. 4 and No. 9. Lydia Ko, who is ranked third in the world, posted a 73 that included a double bogey on the par-5 No. 1. This year's U.S. Women's Open comes during a season notable for its balance — there has been a different winner at each of the LPGA Tour's 12 events. As the most lucrative tournament of the season, the U.S. Women's Open features a $12 million purse, with $2.4 million going to the winner. The list of players ranked in the top 10 teeing off Thursday afternoon included Nelly Korda (first), Ruoning Yin (fourth), Hyo Joo Kim (seventh) and Jin Young Ko (10th).
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
US Women's Open features four-way tie for lead after first round's morning groupings
ERIN, Wis. (AP) — Jinhee Im, A Lim Kim, Yealimi Noh and Rio Takeda each carded 4-under 68 to tie for the lead after the morning groupings Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills. Those scores are notable because only two players finished under par in last year's U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, with Yuka Saso posting a winning four-round total of 4-under 276. Saso, who is seeking her third U.S. Women's Open title, posted a 74 on Thursday. Noh said the low scores at the 6,829-yard, par-72 course didn't surprise her. Erin Hills' difficulty often is based on the strength of the wind, and it was relatively calm early Thursday. 'There are some tees out that are pulled up, and a lot of the par-5s, I think all of them are reachable,' Noh said. 'Some par-3s were shorter than normal. So, I think for sure, with the minimal wind today, it was definitely a good scoring day.' Kim, 29, is seeking her second U.S. Women's Open title after winning this event in 2020 at Champions Golf Club in Houston. She's the only golfer among the four leaders who already has won a U.S. Women's Open. Takeda started at No. 10 and made six birdies in a nine-hole stretch from No. 14 through No. 4 to make up for her bogeys at No. 17 and No. 2. Noh benefited from an eagle at No. 14, a par-5, 510-yard hole. Im had a bogey-free round that included four birdies in a span of five holes from No. 10 through No. 14. Kim made birdie putts of 42 1/2 feet on No. 1 and 32 1/2 feet on No. 4. 'That course condition is really good,' Im said. 'I think green speed is really, really fast, but not firm. So if I can hit the fairway, I can (get) the birdie chance.' Chisato Iwai was fifth with a 69. Hinako Shibuno, Maja Stark and Pajaree Anannarukarn each posted a 70. 'It was nice that today's wind is not as bad as the practice rounds,' Shibuno said. 'Also, that yesterday's rain was helpful. I think when it went on the green that the ball should stop, it stopped. So that was good.' Jeeno Thitikul, the world's second-ranked player, carded a 75. She started at No. 10 and bogeyed four of her first six holes, including three straight from No. 11 through No. 13. She bounced back by making three consecutive birdies on No. 18, No. 1 and No. 2, then bogeyed No. 4 and No. 9. Lydia Ko, who is ranked third in the world, posted a 73 that included a double bogey on the par-5 No. 1. This year's U.S. Women's Open comes during a season notable for its balance — there has been a different winner at each of the LPGA Tour's 12 events. As the most lucrative tournament of the season, the U.S. Women's Open features a $12 million purse, with $2.4 million going to the winner. The list of players ranked in the top 10 teeing off Thursday afternoon included Nelly Korda (first), Ruoning Yin (fourth), Hyo Joo Kim (seventh) and Jin Young Ko (10th). ___ AP golf:
