US Women's Open: New Mum Lee and Yin Share Lead Alison Lee and Ruoning Yin shared the lead at the US Women's Open after a second-round performance that saw both players finish at four-under-par. Lee, a Los Angeles native, carded a three-under 68 at Riviera Country Club, while Yin posted a second consecutive bogey-free 69. The pair’s combined effort placed them one stroke ahead of the rest of the field, with Jennifer Kupcho and Hinako Shibuno among those in joint-third on three-under. Lee, who missed all five majors in 2025 due to maternity leave, is competing under the USGA’s deferred maternity leave exemption. This policy allows players who have earned a spot in a USGA championship to defer their participation, enabling them to return to competition after taking time off. Lee’s son, Levi, was present at the course with her partner, adding a personal touch to her return to the sport. The 31-year-old expressed her excitement about the opportunity to compete in front of friends and family, noting that the experience felt different from her early career. “I feel like I just did a really good job at grinding these last couple of days,” Lee said. “The front nine [in the first round]—if you told me I would be leading going into Saturday, I would have thought you were crazy because I missed a bunch of fairways and greens. It’s so exciting. My first couple years on tour, there was probably a lot of pressure. Now to be able to play in front of friends and family is really special.” Yin, who claimed her sole major title at the 2023 PGA Championship, acknowledged the challenges of the US Open. “I had a lot of stress today,” she said. “It’s US Open, it’s meant to be tough. You can’t really have a stress-free moment on the course until it’s all done. I think the stress and the pressure, it’s also a privilege.#nelly_korda #ruoning_yin #alison_lee #us_womens_open #riviera_country_club
