FRISCO, Texas -- Jeeno Thitikul demonstrated remarkable resilience in the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. After a double bogey on the fifth hole, the No. 2 ranked player in the women's world ranking reminded herself to stay patient, a mindset that paid off handsomely.

Thitikul's recovery was nothing short of spectacular. She made five birdies in a six-hole stretch, including a 60-footer on the par-3 eighth hole. Her performance on the front nine, where she navigated challenging breezes, was particularly impressive. 'My putter went really well,' Thitikul said. 'Making those putts on 7, 8, and 9 really boosted my confidence heading into the back nine.'

Playing on the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco, Thitikul needed only 25 putts, totaling 199½ feet of made putts. Her 4-under 68 gave her a one-stroke lead over Minjee Lee, who finished with a 69. Haeran Ryu, Rio Takeda, and Somi Lee all shot 70.

Challenging Conditions The first round was a test of endurance and skill, with temperatures reaching the mid-90s Fahrenheit and persistent Texas winds. Only 15 of the 156 players broke par, and there were no bogey-free rounds. Defending champion Amy Yang struggled, finishing with a 76, while Maja Stark, who recently won the U.S. Women's Open, shot a 3-over 75.

Notable Performances Thitikul played alongside top-ranked Nelly Korda (72) and No. 3 Lydia Ko (75). Korda, who aggravated a neck injury during a practice round, managed seven consecutive pars but struggled with her neck's rotation. 'It's better every day,' Korda said, 'but it takes a bit longer to recover now.'

Lee's Resilience Minjee Lee, a two-time major winner, showed her own resilience despite a challenging start and finish. 'I feel like they were pretty soft bogeys,' Lee said. 'I just try to stay patient and back up a bogey with something better.'

Thitikul's birdie streak began with a nearly 18-footer at No. 7, followed by the long putt at the eighth. She rolled in a 35-foot birdie at No. 17 and narrowly missed a longer putt on the 434-yard, par-4 18th. Her performance sets the stage for an exciting continuation of the Women's PGA Championship.