Australia’s Karis Davidson made a superb start to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with the 27-year-old firing a seven-under par opening round 65 to sit second at Hazeltine in Minnesota.

Davidson is two shots behind leader Ina Yoon in the third major of the year after the Korean stunned with a bogey free 63 to match the lowest round in tournament history.

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Davidson, who teed off the tenth, made eight birdies in a brilliant display of ball-striking and pushed her way up the leaderboard with two birdies in her last three holes of the day.

The LPGA player also made a fast start at the US Women’s Open earlier this month with a two-under par opening round before finishing tied 22nd.

The Queenslander was the last player added to the field that week at Riviera in Los Angeles as she was an alternate, but she has once again shown that she belongs at major level.

LEADERBOARD: Scores from the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

Karis Davidson of Australia walks on the ninth green during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship 2026 at Hazeltine National Golf ClubSource: AFP

Davidson has not missed a cut this year and recorded her first ever top five finish on the LPGA at the Aramco Championship in April.

Her world ranking as high as 259th in the world late last year, and now it sits at 71st, having climbed into the top 100 off the back of that career-best LPGA finish.

Asked about has been the key to her improvement, Davidson said: “I think I’ve been working on myself. Like mentally finding out what I enjoy of the course I think has really helped me on the course, because now I feel like I can enjoy it more.”

“Yeah, I just know there is more to life than just golf, you know, so I think that’s given me a really good perspective,” she added.

“When I’m on the course I can just enjoy it. If it’s a bad day, it’s a bad day. If it’s a good day, really take it all in and really embrace it.

“Like it’s really awesome to have an amazing score any day at golf, so you just got to take it.”

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As for her round, Davidson putted the lights out, gaining 4.99 strokes on the field on the greens – only Yoon was better.

She was also dialled in with her irons and wedges, ranked seventh in the field in approach play.

“Definitely hit a lot of fairways. Hit a lot of greens. Putting was pretty on today. Really felt like I was going to hole everything,” she said.

“So it was a pretty perfect round.”

As for how she will handle being in contention at a major in the coming days, Davidson’s plan is simple.

“I think I just need to keep enjoying it and just try and hit the best shots I can; just really embrace the experience,” she said.

“I think it’s pretty special to be up top after day one, so I’m just going to embrace it.”

Karis Davidson of Australia plays her shot from the third tee during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship 2026 at Hazeltine National Golf ClubSource: Getty Images

Defending champion Minjee Lee was the next best of the Australians with a one-under par 71.

Hannah Green, who triumphed when this tournament was last played at Hazeltine in 2019, is a shot further back after an even par 72.

Australia’s most recent major champion, Grace Kim, also started with a 72 as did countrywoman Robyn Choi.

Gabi Ruffels was a shot further back with a 73, while Cassie Porter shot 74.

Meanwhile, world No.1 Nelly Korda has a fight on her hands to win a third major title this year after she opened with a two-under par 70.

The American sits seven shots off the back – the same deficit she faced after the first round of the US Women’s Open.