On the first day of the tournament, World No.1 Nelly Korda had a tough start, while Lee managed to stay steady with an even-par 70 at the Lancaster Country Club near Philadelphia.
Despite some setbacks on the back nine, Lee was tied for fifth place, just two shots behind the leader, aiming for her third major win in three years at the record-breaking event.
Yuka Saso led the leaderboard with a two-under 68, while many other top players struggled on the challenging course.
Korda’s chances of winning suffered a major blow on the 12th hole where she took a disastrous septuple-bogey 10, finishing the day with a score of 80 along with Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson.
World No.1 Nelly Korda struggled on the 12th hole, resulting in a 10. PHOTO: Getty Images.
The average score for the day was over five-over-par, the highest in a decade for a U.S. Open, with notable players like Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson also struggling in the tough conditions.
Despite the challenges, Lee managed to stay close to the leaders, just two shots behind Saso, with a solid performance that included five birdies and five bogeys.
The Australian contingent had a mixed day, with Gabriela Ruffels and Sarah Kemp posting scores of 75, while Hannah Green struggled with a back-nine collapse after a promising start.
Other Australian players like Keeley Marx and Steph Kyriacou also had a tough time on the course, rounding out the day’s performances.
– Darren Walton
© Golf Australia. All rights reserved.
