Kupcho's Record-Breaking Start.
Jennifer Kupcho secures one-stroke lead at U.S. Women's Open with record-low 66.
Jennifer Kupcho fired a 5-under-par 66 at Riviera Country Club on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 81st U.S. Women's Open Golfweek. It is the lowest round of her career in the tournament — better than her previous best by four strokes Associated Press.
Sei Young Kim of South Korea sits alone in second place at 4-under 67 Yahoo Sports. World No. 1 Nelly Korda and No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul both struggled, each finishing at 2-over par — seven shots off the pace NBC Sports.
Three Opening Birdies Set the Tone for Kupcho
Kupcho came out blazing, making birdies on holes 1, 2, and 3 — the first time in her career she has opened any round with three straight birdies LA Times. It was a fast start on a course she clearly loves. "I kind of just felt at home," she said NBC Sports. "It's kind of a ball-striker's paradise. Just hit it down the fairway, hit it on the green and make the putts."
The numbers back up how well she hit it. Kupcho gained 4.27 strokes on the field with her approach shots alone — the best mark in the entire field LPGA. She finished at 5-under 66 as the late afternoon shadows stretched across the canyon, holding a one-shot edge over Kim Golfweek.
Korda's Shoe Change Sums Up a Rough Day for Top Seeds
Nelly Korda entered the week chasing a second major of the season. Instead, she found nothing but trouble. She swapped her new Nike shoes mid-round after they felt wrong on her feet LA Times. The fix did not help her score. "I just felt like I was kind of just grinding to make safe pars. It wasn't a great day," Korda said LA Times.
Thitikul had a similarly rough day on Riviera's tricky poa annua greens NBC Sports. Both players finished at 2-over 73. With the leaders at 5-under, the world's top two players are already seven shots back after just 18 holes Yahoo Sports.
Riviera Makes History as a Brutal First-Time Host
This is the first time the U.S. Women's Open has ever been played at Riviera Country Club Wikipedia. The "Cathedral of the Game" has hosted men's majors since 1948, but never a women's major. The 156-player field came from 28 countries. The course made them all work hard. Just one eagle was recorded all day — an 86-yard hole-out by Allisen Corpuz on the 17th Associated Press.
The tournament also carries deep meaning for the local community. Riviera itself was spared, but much of the surrounding Pacific Palisades neighborhood was destroyed in the January 2025 wildfires. USGA officials called the event a "communal marker" of rebuilding and hope USGA. Los Angeles County has removed an estimated 2.5 million tons of debris from the area since the fires LA County.
Record $12.5 Million Purse Raises the Stakes All Week
The winner of this year's tournament will take home a record $2.5 million. The total purse is $12.5 million — up $500,000 from 2025 and the largest in women's golf history Forbes. That prize money adds pressure and motivation in equal measure as the week goes on.
For Kupcho, a four-time LPGA Tour winner and 2022 Chevron Champion, the stakes go beyond money. She has missed the cut in her last three U.S. Women's Open appearances Yahoo Sports. A 66 in round one suggests that streak may finally be over. Round 2 tees off Friday, with the projected cut line sitting around 3-over or 4-over par NBC Sports.
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