Rookie Madison Young has faced challenges in finding her game in her inaugural season on the LPGA Tour, but she is determined to turn her year around with just a few events remaining on the 2025 schedule.

And despite only making five cuts in 12 starts, her bogey-free 67 on Thursday at the FM Championship could be the confidence booster she needs to make a significant turnaround as she works to retain full status for the 2026 season.

Young's strategic approach was evident in her opening round at TPC Boston. With two birdies on the front nine and back-to-back birdies on the par-3 11th and par-5 12th holes on the back nine, she demonstrated her patience and accuracy at what can be a tricky venue. She was focused on keeping the ball in the fairway, finding the short grass on eight of 14 holes in the first round, which gave her the chance to make the five birdies she carded on day one.

"I feel like I have kind of an advantage out here, just a little bit, because I can fly some of the bunkers that are strategically placed because of my distance. I feel like that helps a little bit out here," said Young, who was eighth in average driving distance ahead of the FM Championship. "It's a tricky course and the greens are a little tricky, but it's a cool place."

The 28-year-old rookie knows she's one of the older first-years on the LPGA Tour, but Young doesn't feel like she has any extra wisdom or level-headedness as a benefit of her experience as a professional golfer, knowledge she gleaned from her time competing on the Epson Tour.

"I don't think it gives me an advantage, to be honest,” said Young, showing her respect for the talent on the LPGA Tour. “Three years on Epson I thought maybe would give me a little bit of experience, preparation for coming into being a rookie, but I've quickly learned that the people out here are really good, and you've got to level up.”

The 2024 Epson Tour graduate currently sits at No. 145 in the Race to the CME Globe standings, and a solid finish at the FM Championship would be a nudge in the right direction, as she needs to finish in the top 100 in the season-long points race to maintain full status for next year.

With TPC Boston playing firm and fast, Young plans to stay patient and trust the work she has put in heading into the second round of the FM Championship, but also said she will find her "landing spots and playing to my conservative target, aggressive swings and just keep doing the same thing."

And that mindset is one Young hopes will continue to pay off in Massachusetts as she pursues her sixth made cut of the 2025 season.

Epson Tour Graduate Madison Young Staying Patient in First Round of FM Championship

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