Nicole Broch Estrup looked like she hadn't missed a beat.

Playing in her first LPGA Tour event in more than a year, the Danish golfer fired a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 on Friday to sit solo second at the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern.

For Broch Estrup, the bogey-free round was a successful return to competition after having stepped away from golf in February 2025 to prepare for the birth of her first child.

"I mean, it feels great," Broch Estrup said. "I've been looking forward to coming back for a long time, so to be here and just be able to travel with Max and Kasper as well, I feel very grateful to be out here again."

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Though she found just 6 of 14 fairways, the 33-year-old leaned on precise iron play and a hot putter to hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, needing only 26 putts to complete her round.

She surged up the leaderboard on the strength of two distinct birdie streaks, stringing together gains on holes Nos. 4, 5, and 6, before catching fire again on holes Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 to sit at 7-under with seven holes to play.

Broch Estrup admitted that putting together such a low score so quickly in her return brought on unexpected nerves, particularly during her second birdie run.

"To be honest, I got really nervous, especially on the second streak," she said. "It hit me on nine when I was -- I had like, I don't know, a 20-footer for eagle. Left myself like a three-footer for birdie and then I started shaking to be honest.

However, the veteran pro credited her new role as a mother for helping her reset her mindset and keep her emotions in check under pressure.

"But it's — having Max here and, you know, having Max in general just gives another perspective," Broch Estrup said. "My biggest goal is to not get in my own way. I feel like I was definitely not striking it well today, but I just kept a smile on my face and took the good bounces."

Denmark's Broch Estrup is joining a growing contingent of working mothers on the LPGA Tour, a transition made smoother by the tour's dedicated childcare services.

"It means a lot, and the daycare here is — I mean, we've only experienced it four days so far, but it's been amazing," Broch Estrup said. "So far I'm pretty sure Max loves it too. So it gives hope, and we're hopeful we can make it work as a family out here. Yeah, the LPGA daycare definitely helps us with that."

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That family-first mantra definitely shaped her approach in her opening round, but the new mom insisted she teed off without a specific target in mind, choosing to focus on the joy of competing again.

"To be honest I did not have a score goal today," she said. "My goal was to just enjoy the first round back. I had absolutely — I mean, I knew I was coming with something game-wise, like I am hitting the ball well and I have been practicing well, but my expectations were just to go out there and try my best."

With the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern featuring a 54-hole format, a fast start is key to staying in contention for a Sunday trophy. While Broch Estrup put herself in an ideal position, she remains grounded about what the rest of the weekend holds. Her primary focus for the next two rounds is practical: hit more than the six fairways she found Friday and continue adjusting to her new normal.

"I am definitely happy I got a fast start," Broch Estrup said. "But, again, this week is not about — obviously, I would like a good result on Sunday, but this week is not about the result for me. It's more about trying to figure out this new life for all of us out here."

Mom's the Word: Broch Estrup Shakes Off Nerves, Fires 64 in First LPGA Start in Over a Year

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