Mackova Sets Course Record to Take Early Lead in Korea
Patricie Mackova shot a bogey-free 65 to lead the Aramco Korea Championship by two strokes after the first round. Her score matched the New Korea Country Club record and marked the lowest round of her career. Miyu Yamashita, Sarah Kemp, Olivia Cowan and Lily May Humphreys are tied for second, while two-time defending champion Hyo Joo Kim sits at 4-under.
Patricie Mackova, a 25-year-old Czech player, carded a 65 without a bogey at New Korea Country Club. Her seven birdies came at the second, third, eighth, ninth, 13th, 15th and 18th. The round tied Seojin Park’s 2025 course mark and was Mackova’s career best. She leads by two.
Miyu Yamashita, Sarah Kemp, Olivia Cowan and Lily May Humphreys share second at five under. Two-time defending champion Hyo Joo Kim is at four under. This LET event has a $2 million purse and returns to 72-hole individual strokeplay after last year’s team format. Mackova wore green for EcoAthletes’ sustainability awareness.
Mackova’s record round and green attire may lift the Aramco Korea Championship’s visibility, potentially drawing new viewers to women’s golf. Her personal turnaround could resonate with players facing form struggles, while the sustainability link may prompt fans, athletes and sponsors to consider environmental messages in sport. In Seoul, Hyo Joo Kim’s title defence may sustain local interest, and the individual format and purse could affect players’ earnings and rankings.