The schoolgirl, who beat the record held by compatriot Lexi Thompson - who qualified for the 2007 tournament aged 12 - ended up 11 shots behind early leader and fellow American Stacy Lewis.

Li, who is not the youngest ever player to compete at the tournament - Beverly Klass, who competed in 1967 aged 10 without having to qualify still holds that record - began with a double bogey on her opening hole, the 10th, and added another double and a triple bogey alongside three bogeys and two birdies.

"It was a lot of fun," Li, who celebrated her historic round with an ice cream, said.

"I kind of struggled today, but it was great.

"I mean, it's eight over.

"It's not bad.

"But I was seven over in three holes, so that's one over in 15 holes.

"So yeah, I just need to get rid of the big numbers."

Early leader Stacy Lewis admitted she was not completely comfortable with Lucy Li's participation in the US Women's Open ©Getty Images


Meanwhile, world number one and last year's British Women's Open champion Lewis admitted she was not completely comfortable with Li's participation in the competition.

"I'm not a big fan of it," she said.

"I like to see kids learn how to win before they come and get beat up out here.

"If it was my kid, I wouldn't let her play in the US Open qualifier aged 11."

But English professional golfer Dame Laura Davies disagreed, saying, "if you're good enough, you're old enough".

"If you can play the golf and you can qualify, then have a go," she added.

"What's the worst that can happen?

"She shoots a million this week and everyone says, 'Wasn't it great she was here?'

"So I don't think anything bad can come out of it because she's too young to worry about the pressure.

"She's just having fun.

"She's got a week off school.

"It's perfect."

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