Lydia Ko is sitting near the top of the leaderboard after her opening round at the ANA Inspiration in California, as the second women's golf major of the year got underway.
Lydia Ko and Danielle Kang. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ko carded a three under par 69, including a eagle and two birdies, to be tied for ninth, three shots off the lead.
American Nelly Korda, playing late in the day, fired a six under par 66 and she has a won shot lead over In Gee Chun of South Korea and Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden.
The tournament is usually played in April but was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is being held without fans in attendance.
The conditions are less than ideal at Rancho Mirage, with temperatures expected to soar above 38 degrees during the tournament.
Nearby wildfires also impacted the air quality earlier in the week but the skies were clearer on Wednesday and Thursday.
Ko won this event in 2016.
Meanwhile Ryan Fox is tied for 9th, 6 shots off the lead after the first round of the Portugal Masters.
