Yealimi Noh, who stuck with the broomstick putter, is tied for lead at U.S. Women's Open
ERIN, Wis. — It's been about two years since Yealimi Noh switched to a broomstick putter. Both her father and coach suggested that she give it a try after several months of struggling with the yips.
'I didn't know what to do, and I just needed something completely different,' said Noh, who holds a share of the first-round lead at the 80th U.S. Women's Open after an opening 4-under 68. Noh is one of four players who finished a mostly calm morning wave knotted at the top of the board. She's joined by 2020 U.S. Women's Open champ A Lim Kim, hotshot rookie Rio Takeda and the promising young South Korean, Jinhee Im.
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The yips have been a hot topic this week as former No. 1 Yani Tseng is here putting left-handed. Noh actually tried that too a few weeks ago just by chance on the practice putting green.
'I was like, oh it's actually better than you think,' she said. 'It's not as crazy as it looks.'
Noh, who holed out for eagle from 42 yards on the par-5 14th, took 28 putts in the opening round with the L.A.B. putter that helped turn around her game. Noh ranked 130th in putts per green in regulation on tour in 2022 and 102nd in 2023. She finished last season ranked 30th in putts per GIR.
In February, Noh won for the first time on the LPGA in her 111th career start at the Founders Cup. The victory boosted her confidence and took 'a lot of pressure off my back.'
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California's Noh actually has some good history here in Wisconsin, where she reports that she's enjoying her cheese.
Yealimi Noh hands the ball to her caddie after getting a bogey win the ninth hole during the first round of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills.
After turning professional at age 17 without status on any tour, the former U.S. Girls' Junior champ Monday-qualified her way into the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. After opening rounds of 63-65, Noh found herself in the final pairing.
'I don't think I could have started my career any better,' said Noh of her first LPGA start, which resulted in a top 10.
She was supremely confident and fearless back then, blissfully unaware of how cruel the game can become. Now, at age 23, she's already wise enough to be grateful for the speedbumps that led her to the first-round lead of a major.
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Other players asked to try out her long putter before she won a tournament and rose to No. 18 in the world, and these days, it happens on a weekly basis.
'Some players have already asked me about it,' said Noh, 'can I try it again? I'm like you asked me this a couple months ago. Now they're like, oh, can I like try it, try it?'
Should she go on to win this week at Erin Hills, long putters might become all the rage.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Yealimi Noh and broomstick putter tied for lead U.S. Women's Open
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