A new mental approach and stunning run of consistency has suddenly turned Australian golfer Karis Davidson into a major contender as fights near the top of the leaderboard at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The world No.71 from the Gold Coast fired eight birdies on her way to a stunning seven-under par 65, just two shots behind first round leader Ina Yoon of South Korea who fired a record-equalling 63.
The 27-year-old Davidson arrived at Hazeltine National Golf Club after a career-best major result of tied-22nd at the US Women’s Open three weeks ago and a tied-12th at last week’s Meijer LPGA Classic.
Davidson has made the cut in all 10 of her LPGA tour starts this season and is feeling confident about her form as she looks to become the fifth Australian – after Jan Stephenson, Karrie Webb, Hannah Green and defending champion Minjee Lee – to win the PGA Championship.
Davidson said a new mental approach had given her the self-belief to compete on the biggest stages.
“I’ve been working on myself,” Davidson said.
“Mentally finding out what I enjoy off the course I think has really helped me on the course, because now I feel like I can enjoy it more.
“I just know there is more to life than just golf, so I think that’s given me a really good perspective.
“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.
“It’s pretty special to be up top after day one, so I’m just going to embrace it.”
Davidson started from the 10th tee and had a bogey-free back nine, including three birdies in succession from the 15th to 17th.
Her only bogey of the round came at the par-4 sixth, but she rebounded quickly to drain a long 35-foot birdie putt on the seventh.
“Putting was pretty on today,” Davidson said.
“I really felt like I was going to hole everything, so it was a pretty perfect round.”
Davidson sits just two shots off the lead, while world No.1 Nelly Korda’s quest to win a third straight major title hit a hurdle as she sat seven shots off the pace after a double bogey on the 16th.
“Honestly just made one bad swing, which ended up in a double,” said Korda.
Australia’s defending champion Lee shot a one-under par 71, to be six shots off the pace in a tie for 26th.
Hannah Green, who won her first major title at this course in 2019, was one shot further back after an even-par 72 to be tied with fellow Australian major champion Grace Kim and Robyn Choi.