Australia’s LPGA contingent made an impressive start to the US Women’s Open with four Australians in the top 16 following the opening round at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
Three-time major winner Minjee Lee and late call-up Karis Davidson are the best placed of the Australians – three shots behind leader Jennifer Kupcho after both shot a two-under par round of 69.
Watch every round of The 2026 U.S. Women’s Open LIVE & EXCLUSIVE is Fox Sports, available on Kayo 19-22 June | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Hannah Green and Steph Kyriacou, meanwhile, are a shot further back after they opened with a pair of 70s.
Lee was rock solid to open her campaign for a second US Women’s Open crown, going bogey free for the day.
The 30-year-old opened with a birdie at the par 5 first and then finished off her front nine with a birdie at the par 4 ninth.
Remarkably, Lee was perfect off the tee, hitting all 14 fairways in regulation.
That statistic meant she would have liked to have capitalised on more scoring opportunities, but post-round the world No.9 was simply happy to be firmly in the hunt in her first start since the first major of the year – the Chevron Championship in April.
“Yeah, I mean, I had not too many expectations. I didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on myself, especially having five weeks off,” she said.
“Yeah, just wanted to have a nice day. It was really great weather. Nice walk out there.”
LEADERBOARD: Live scores from the US Women’s Open
Minjee Lee of Australia plays her shot from the 11th tee during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open.Source: AFP
Lee is hopeful that Australia’s impressive record as a nation in Los Angeles can come to the fore this week.
She won the LPGA’s LA Open back in 2019, while Green won the LPGA’s LA Championship earlier this year.
Australia’s men have also excelled at this week’s host venue with Adam Scott twice winning the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational at Riviera, while Aaron Baddeley and Robert Allenby have also won the tournament which is now run by Tiger Woods.
Plus, the last time Riviera hosted a major – the 1995 PGA Championship – Australia’s Steve Elkington triumphed.
For Lee, she believes the success comes from similarities to home.
“Yeah, I’ve had some nice weeks, nice memories in LA. I feel like it’s a bit more familiar than any other states I go to other than Dallas because that’s where I live,” she said.
“Just feels like, I don’t know, the weather is a little bit more like home. The food and just the vibe is — just reminds me of Perth.
“I always like coming back and competing in the U.S. Open. It’s always a great feeling and always — I’m a past champion, so I hold great pride coming back.”
READ MORE
‘Losing his mind’: Scheffler snaps in all-time caddie blow-up as world No.1 unloads
‘Obviously not working’: Smith breaks ranks in big LIV admission over $42m elephant in room
This Aussie hit shot of a lifetime to become a major champ. A hidden ‘blessing’ could reignite her surge
Davidson, meanwhile, was only elevated into the 156-player field earlier this week as she was first alternate after finishing third at a qualifying event in April.
The Queenslander grabbed her opportunity with both hands, playing the front nine in three-under par before ultimately finishing with a two-under par round.
“Well, I just kind of came over from Australia with the mindset of you know what, even if I don’t get in I’ll stay with the other Aussie girls and watch a bit of
golf at Riv and hopefully get a practice round around the place,” Davidson said.
“Obviously I was really happy when I got the call, yeah.”
Karis Davidson, of Australia, watches on the 17th hole during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open.Source: AP
As for how she played after making four birdies and two bogeys, Davidson said: “Yeah, I’m really chuffed.
“Yeah, played solid. Holed some good putts. Also missed a couple silly ones. My concentration was not the best. On the back nine I would say I lost a bit of energy.”
Green appeared refreshed after a break at home in Perth as the world No.5 bookended her day with birdies to ensure she is in the mix at the 2028 Olympic Games venue.
While it is only one round, it was a welcome return to form for Kyriacou after a challenging first half of the year.
The 25-year-old missed seven cuts in a row before finishing tied 58th at last week’s Shoprite LPGA Classic in New Jersey.
Last year’s Evian Championship winner Grace Kim found the going a little tougher as she carded a one-over par 72.
Amateur Sarah Hammett is the sixth Australian in the field this week and she began her major career with a first round 80 after coming through qualifying.