​Aki Iwai has changed her professional name on the LPGA Tour to better suit American fans and newcomers, making her easier to pronounce. The adjustment came a few months ago, after she posted an opening 8-under 63 at the Amundi Evian Championship, a performance that gives golf fans a prime chance to get acquainted with the more aggressive half of the Iwai sisters. Akie is her given name, pronounced ah-kee-ay, while her nickname Aki is pronounced ah-kee. In May, she told LPGA officials that she would prefer to go by Aki from now on. Her twin sister, Chisato, has adopted the nickname Chizzy on the LPGA leaderboards and rankings at the outset of the 2026 season.
The LPGA’s first twin siblings on tour last year were both rookies who would also become winners, and together they have amassed 14 titles on the JLPGA circuit. They turned 24 years old on July 5. Aki, who was born one minute before her sister, sits at world No. 24, while Chizzy is ranked No. 25. On Thursday at Evian-les-Bains, Aki Iwai walked the 18th hole of the Amundi Evian Championship in Evian Resort Golf Club while navigating a water-lined, picturesque course, and her bogey-free 63 marked the best opening round at Evian since Ayaka Furue shot 63 in 2022.
Japan currently has three players inside the top seven on the leaderboard, including major winner Mao Saigo, who carded a 66, and Erika Hara, who shot 67. “I was able to focus on my golf, and then stay committed,” Iwai said about her day, noting that Evian’s mountainous layout reminded her of courses back home in Japan. Joining Saigo at 66 were Haeran Ryu, the recent KPMG Women’s PGA champion, and Jin Hee Im. Ryu added that winning a major had given her a calm, comfortable feeling about her game, saying, “Feels calm and more comfortable for me because I already have a major champion title, so I’m very happy right now.” She also mentioned that her mother was pleased with her performance.
Not everyone started the week on a high note. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who has won four majors, opened with a 74, a 3-over-par round that left her outside the top 100 and facing a challenge to even make the cut this week. A victory here would have completed her career Grand Slam and earned her a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame, but the early result has her focused on making the weekend.
Another notable round came from past Evian champion Minjee Lee, who opened with a 77. Reigning NCAA champion Farah O’Keefe posted 68 in her Evian debut, while Kiara Romero, the top-ranked amateur in the world, shot 74. Romero would earn her LPGA card if she can advance to the weekend. The Evian field of 132 is cut to the top 65 and ties after two rounds.
Chizzy Iwai reached the turn at Evian with a 1-under 36, signaling strong play from the twins as the tournament settled into its weekend rhythm. Beth Ann Nichols, a senior writer for Golfweek, covers the LPGA and provided coverage of the event. This article is part of Golfweek’s reporting on Aki Iwai’s eye-catching start at Evian, highlighting the twin pair’s emergence on the LPGA Tour and the changing naming approach that helps fans connect with them.
This piece originally appeared on Golfweek, under the headline referencing Aki Iwai’s 63 to lead by three at the Evian Championship, and it reflects the ongoing story of Iwai’s adaptation to the LPGA narrative, as well as the broader competition unfolding at Evian Resort Golf Club.