“Today I actually putted really well, and usually I hit it better than my putting,” she said.

“But I’ve been working really hard on all aspects of my game, so I feel like I’m pretty confident just in my ability right now.”

The 26-year-old tuned up for the season’s fourth women’s major with victory at last month’s Cognizant Founders Cup, her first LPGA Tour win of the year.

Lee’s Tokyo Olympics teammate Hannah Green is the next-best Australian after opening with a one-under 70.

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Grace Kim posted a 73 in her first major as a professional and Sarah Kemp had a 76.

Still in college and with no immediate plans to turn pro, Lindblad isn’t eligible for the monster winner’s cheque.

But the 22-year-old still believes she can win.

“Yeah, it’s possible,” she said.

Three amateurs had previously shot 66 - Carol Semple Thompson in 1994, Brittany Lincicome in 2004 and Gina Kim in 2019.

Catherine Lacoste, the daughter of French tennis player Rene Lacoste and 1927 British Ladies Amateur champion Simone Thion de la Chaume, was the only amateur to win the US Women’s Open back in 1967.

AAP

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