• Published

AIG Women's Open

-7 A Thitikul (Tha); -5 S Kuwaki (Jpn), H Ryu (Kor); -4 Y Noh (US), C Boutier (Fra); -3 C Iwai (Jpn), C Wannasaen (Tha); -2 P Martin (Esp), L Coughlin (US), C Hull (Eng), R Takeda (Jpn), M Saigo (Jpn), L Woad (Eng), S Tan (Sin).

Selected others: -1 A Hewson (Eng), E Rhodes (Eng), A Fuller (Eng), L Ko (NZ), +1 M Yamashita (Jpn), +2 N Korda.

World number two Jeeno Thitikul leads the first round of the AIG Women's Open by two shots after a spectacular seven-under 64 at Royal Lytham & St Anne's.

The 23-year-old has 11 top-10 finishes in majors but has never won one, and went bogey-free in a fine start to her latest attempt.

South Korea's Haeran Ryu, aiming to become only the fifth woman in history to claim three majors in a calendar year, is second alongside Japan's Shiho Kuwaki on five under.

England's Lottie Woad and Charley Hull are both on two under.

The world's best golfers performed well in the opening round, with world number one Nelly Korda one of the few stars to fall behind.

Korda remains off the pace after shooting a two-over-par 73 in a round that included four bogeys.

Thailand's Thitikul, who was leapfrogged by Korda as world number one when she won the Chevron Championship in April, sunk seven birdies in a faultless round.

Her round included three straight birdies on the front nine and difficult par saves.

Earlier this month, Ryu, 25, claimed her second major in the space of two weeks at the Evian Championship.

That form continued as four birdies on the front nine quickly took her to the top of the leaderboard.

Despite a bogey on the 15th, Ryu finished with two birdies in the last three holes.

Last year's Open champion Miyu Yamashita shot one-over-par, while three-time major winner Lydia Ko is even par.

More to follow.