Lilia Vu paces Team USA players, in contention early for medal at 2024 Olympics

Vu was the only Team USA player to shoot under par for Round one of the 2024 Olympics as she eyes the podium.

Lilia Vu signed for a 2-under 70 for her first round of the 2024 Olympics.

She was the only Team USA member to shoot under par, as Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang shot an even-par 72.

Vu got off to a hot start, being 4-under through seven holes, but she went cold during the middle part of her round.

Even though she started strong, her warm-up was not perfect. Vu explained that it was a mess and that she did not feel great about her game.

“I was getting imposter syndrome a little bit,” Vu said. “I was like, how am I here right now? But it’s okay. I’m going to try my best and hopefully can get better. I get in my way. That’s like your own enemy, basically... I’ll find my way out. I always do.”

She dropped a shot at the par-5 9th and then made five consecutive pars. The No. 2 ranked golfer got back to 4-under on the day with her final birdie at 15. However, she went 2-over in her last three holes to record a 70.

Signing for an under-par score is huge on a course like Le Golf National. However, those bogeys do not matter in the grand scheme of things.

This week marks Vu’s Olympic debut. The 26-year-old seems to enjoy every moment of the journey. She smiled constantly and seemed almost giddy about the whole experience.

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Ahead of the competition, Vu dropped the mic and hypothetically put winning a medal as the ultimate achievement.

“To me, it would rank a little higher than a major. In the sense that you’re playing for your country, and it’s more than just golf,” Vu said on Tuesday. “It’s the Olympics, which is the best athletes all over the world.”

The former UCLA golfer is playing alongside Frenchwoman Celine Boutier. She currently leads the tournament after carding a 7-under 65 on day one. Vu saw firsthand how incredible the French crowds were for their countrywoman.

“It was so cool to see all her fans push hard for her,” Vu explained. “I think on hole 15, I kind of thought — changed my mindset. I was, okay, I’m playing for my country that saved my family when we needed to on the boat. So I’m playing for more than me. I’m trying to give back to my country and earn them a medal.”

She said the crowds reminded her of The Open when she played alongside Englishwoman Charley Hull.

Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

“There are more fans because it’s the Olympics,” she said. “Like even non-golf fans are here, I think. Today was a little more extra. But it’s really cool to see. They’re all pushing hard for her. And it’s not like they’re rooting against me. They’re cheering for me too.”

The Olympics bring out people's patriotism. They love to cheer for the athletes representing their country. The crowds are massive, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Vu trails Boutier by five shots heading into the second round of play. She sits tied third with three other ladies, Gaby Lopez, Morgane Metraux and Mariajo Uribe. Ashleigh Buhai sits solo second after she shot a 4-under 68.

The Team USA member is in the medal hunt but has 54 holes left to play. It has not been her best season with her fighting injuries, but Vu’s game is coming into form at the right time. She is a special player who knows what it takes to compete on these giant stages.

Now, the five-time LPGA winner must believe in herself and trust that she has what it takes to become an Olympic medalist.

Vu, Boutier and Amy Yang tee off at 3:55 a.m. ET for their second round of the women’s golf competition at the 2024 Olympics at Le Golf National.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.