South Korea’s unheralded Jenny Shin upstaged the biggest names in the women’s game as she eagled the par-five 15th on the way to a one-shot lead in the opening round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Thursday.
Shin, who has recorded just two top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour this season, fired a flawless seven-under 66 to vault to the top of the leaderboard on a hot, humid day at Westchester Country Club.
Canadian teen Brooke Henderson, playing in the season’s second major on a sponsor’s exemption, also got to seven under but bogeyed her final hole, the par-five ninth, to open with a 67.
I’ve been playing okay, and I feel like I have my first win coming up. It’s a major, I want to play well
Australian veteran Karrie Webb, a seven-time major winner, was a further stroke back after carding a six-birdie 68, level with England’s Charley Hull and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn.
“I was chasing the leaderboard all day and I was surprised that Webby was at six under at one point and I thought, how is she shooting six-under par,” Shin said after a bogey-free round that also included five birdies.
“I got there and I was like, ‘Maybe I can get one more on the 18th hole?’ And I did.
“I’ve been playing okay, and I feel like I have my first win coming up. It’s a major, I want to play well.”