PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Jennifer Kupcho has never been one to get an early preview of a U.S. Women’s Open venue. Her parents always thought it was a good idea, but Kupcho thought, well, she didn’t do that anywhere else. Why do it here?
This year, however, she took them up on it, coming over to check out Riviera Country Club while she was playing at the nearby JM Eagle LA Championship in April.
After opening with a 5-under 66 to lead the 81st U.S. Women’s Open, she decided: “Parents are always right, right?”
Kupcho, who is staying with a host family this week, has missed the cut in her last three U.S. Open appearances. The fact that she’s nowhere near the cut line has taken a weight off her chest.
A four-time winner on the LPGA, including the 2022 Chevron Championship, the 29-year-old’s previous best finish at this event was a share of 21st in 2017.
“Just kind of got it all together, and it’s just flowing,” said Kupcho of her ball-striking this week.
She leads South Korea’s Sei Young Kim by one shot. Five players hold a share of third. A total of 28 players broke par on a picture-perfect day in Pacific Palisades. Amateur Aphrodite Deng, 16, briefly held a share of the lead before ultimately shooting 70. She’s joined by 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Maria Jose Marin and SEC champion Paula Francisco Liano in a share of 14th.
Despite the ideal scoring conditions, a number of of the tour’s biggest names fell flat. World No. 1 Nelly Korda was bewildered by an opening 2-over 73 that saw her changing her shoes mid-round. No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul matched her efforts at 73 to take a share of 57th along with Charley Hull, Brooke Henderson, Yani Tseng and Kiara Romero, the top-ranked amateur in the world.
Michelle Wie West, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion who might be making her final appearance in the event, shot 75. She hit her opening drive off the famed first tee 319 yards.
Beth Ann Nichols is a Golfweek senior writer covering the LPGA and women’s golf.
