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Yoon leads as Korda bid for major hat-trick falters
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Published
Women’s PGA Championship first round
-9 I Yoon (Kor); -7 K Davidson (Aus); -5 A Kim (Kor), A Pano (US); -4 A Krauter (Ger), H Choi (Kor), M Khang (US)
Selected others: -2 N Korda (US); E L Woad (Eng); +1 C Hull (Eng), M Rhodes (Eng), G Dryburgh (Sco), L Walsh (Ire)
South Korea’s Ina Yoon leads the Women’s PGA Championship by two shots after the first round as Nellie Korda’s hopes of a third straight major were dented.
The 23-year-old made no bogeys in a nine-under-par 63 at Hazletine in Minnesota – and is seven shots clear of world number one Korda.
Yoon, who is in her second year on the LGPA Tour and is yet to finish higher than fourth, made nine birdies in a dazzling opening round.
Australia’s Karis Davidson is second after a seven-under 65 while South Korea’s A-Lim Kim and America’s Alexa Pano are tied third on five under.
“It was fun to play out there,” said Yoon. “I’m just trying to think of nothing. Focus on what I need to do. Focus on process. That part, I think, I did great.”
American Korda is in a share of 19th after making five birdies but also a double bogey on the 16th hole.
The 27-year-old four-time major winner won the Chevron Championship in April and the US Women’s Open earlier this month.
“Honestly just made one bad swing, which ended up in a double. But overall, pretty happy with my day,” said Korda.
“I put myself into a good position. I’m really happy with the first day. You can’t win it on the first day, but you can definitely lose it. Overall happy with a solid start.”
The purse of $13m (£9.8m) this week is the largest in women’s golf history, with $1.95m (£1.48m) awarded to the winner.
