Steady Ko handy to lead after opening round at US Open

Lydia Ko sits four shots back from the leaders after making a steady start to the US Women’s Open at Shoal Creek.

The Kiwi shares 19th position after she shot an opening round one-underpar 71 to keep in touch with Ariya Jutanugarn, Sarah Jane Smith and Jeongeun Lee, who lead at five-under.

Ko, who snapped a near two-year drought by winning the Mediheal Championship last month, birdied holes three, six and 15 but was left to rue a late bogey on the 17th after her drive went into the deep rough to the left of the fairway, meaning she had to punch out of the trees. Her third then found rough again and she was unable to rescue a par, which would have kept her in the top 10.

Ko was impressed with the way the course had handled the tropical storm in the preceding days.

‘‘It was a lot drier than yesterday,’’ she said. ‘‘There wasn’t that many weird mud balls, which was really good and, overall, the greens are rolling pretty good so, yeah, just get the odd few sections where it gets a little bumpy because there’s been a lot of players walking through there.

‘‘But, overall, the course is looking pretty good for how much water it’s taken.’’

Thailand’s Jutanugarn spent hours in front before Smith and Lee caught her late in the round. Jutanugarn is coming off a Kingsmill Championship win and kept up the momentum, including an eagle on the sixth. She is focusing more on each shot instead of worrying about the big picture.

‘‘At Kingsmill, I started [saying] I’m not going to think about the outcome,’’ the eight-time LPGA Tour winner said. ‘‘I’m not going to think about winning the tournament.’’

Jutanugarn and the Australian Smith each had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys.

Smith and Lee have never won on the LPGA Tour. Now, they find themselves in the unfamiliar position of holding a share of the lead at a major championship – and trying not to get caught up in it.

‘‘It’s pretty early,’’ Smith said. ‘‘Later on in the week it might be easier to get ahead of yourself. [Friday] morning I have got to make sure that it’s just a new day and not worry too much about where I am. Whether that’s possible, I don’t know.’’

Lee wasn’t getting carried away either. ‘‘Well, it’s just the first round, just started it,’’ she said.

Ko’s best result at the US Women’s Open came in 2016 when she finished in a tie for third.

Stuff, AP

‘‘The course is looking pretty good for how much water it’s taken.’’ Lydia Ko