South Korean Kim Hyo-joo and China’s Lin Xiyu shared the first-round lead on the U.S. Women’s Open after capturing 4-under-par rounds of 68 at Pebble Beach on Thursday.

Kim, on the lookout for her second main championship title after profitable the Evian Championship in 2014, made a fantastic begin to her spherical with 4 birdies earlier than she bogeyed the par-4 ninth.

The 29-year-old managed only one extra birdie, on the penultimate gap, however was delighted that she prevented bogeys on the again 9.

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“I was quite concerned about the front nine, but I was able to do a good job,” she stated.

“Then on the back nine I had some risky stretches, but I was able to make par each time, and I’m very satisfied with my overall performance to the end,” she added.

Kim was runner-up within the 2018 US Women’s Open, shedding in a playoff to Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn at Shoal Creek, Alabama, however stated that contest was removed from her thoughts.

“This is a new tournament, a new golf course, so I had a new mindset,” she stated. “My good performance today, I think that gives me confidence,” she stated.

Lin is attempting to find her first main after selecting up seven wins on the China LPGA Tour and two victories on the European Tour.

She made 5 birdies and a bogey on the ninth, her final gap, however was happy with the best way her quick sport had ensured she prevented additional bogeys.

“I feel like my game wasn’t at the best, especially first couple holes I struggled get on the green, even from the fairway,” she stated.

“But I saved some really, really good pars, so I think that takes some pressure off my shoulder to have a solid start.”

Lin missed out on the Women’s PGA Championship two weeks in the past in Baltusrol, ending third after having a share of the lead going into the ultimate gap.

She has had three top-three finishes this season as she appears to be like to lastly get her first win on the LPGA Tour.

Keep it easy

“I feel like when you’re on a good run, you better just get something out of it,” stated Lin, who had three runner-up finishes in 2022.

“After the two missed cuts, I regrouped myself, set a new goal, set a new game plan. Obviously, it’s working, so I just wanted to keep it going and see what happened.”

“I was definitely trying too hard a couple months ago, thinking I need extra skill to able to win the tournament,” she added.

“Then we kind of calmed down and thought of last year, one of the best seasons I’ve had, and all I did whole year. There were no swing changes. I kept things simple. Kind of remind myself what brings me here.”

Irish pair Leona Maguire and Aine Donegan, the latter an newbie, have been amongst six gamers a shot again of the lead on 69.

Maguire has had three top-10 finishes in majors since 2021 however the 28-year-old can also be on the lookout for her first title.

Two bogeys, on the primary and the eleventh, price her the possibility to carry the lead however she was happy with the best way she recovered.

“I played really solid all day. Hit a lot of fairways, which was key out there I feel like. Missed a few greens, but made some really nice up-and-downs when I needed to keep the momentum going.

“Always nice to finish with two birdies in the last four,” she stated.

Women’s PGA Championship winner Yin Ruoning of China was three pictures off the lead after making a one-under 71 whereas defending champion Minjee Lee of Australia shot an even-par 72.