Impressive start for Ko at British Open

Lydia Ko has got off to a great start at the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, shooting a four-under-par 68 in her first round yesterday.

The New Zealander is tied for eighth at the end of the first day at the historic course in north-west England.

Ko, who missed the cut at the Scottish Open last week, was on fire from the beginning of her round on the links course, with birdies on the second, third and fifth holes.

Although she hit a bogey on the ninth hole, there were further birdies from the 21-year-old on the 13th and 16th holes.

The leader after the first round is Minjee Lee from Australia, who is seven-under.

She was three under at the turn after birdies at Nos 4, 6 and 8, and reached seven-under with a curling eagle putt at No 15. Another birdie at the next took her further clear, only for a bogey at the par-4 17th to spoil her card.

‘‘I definitely holed a lot of putts from far away, so that really helped me today,’’ she said.

‘‘I knew I was hitting it really well coming into this week so I went out there and played my game, which is all I can control. Just having fun out there was my main goal.’’

Lee’s best result at a major is a tie for third at the ANA Inspiration last year.

Mamiko Higa was a shot behind after a 66, while five players – Georgia Hall, Teresa Lu, Park Sunghyun, Lee Mi-hyang and Pornanong Phatlum – were a further stroke back on a day that started with showers and a breeze before brightening up.

Top-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn bounced back from a double-bogey six at the second hole to shoot 71. Second-ranked Inbee Park dropped four shots in her first five holes in a 76.

Stuff/ap