Ariya struggles as Ewart Shadoff, Hsu ahead by 2

TOP-RANKED Ariya Jutanugarn struggled on day one of the Australian Open yesterday with England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Wei-ling seizing the early lead.

The Thai world No. 1, 2018’s standout player, carded two double bogeys and two bogeys to be well down the field with a 4-over-par 76, leaving her 11 adrift of the leaders. Ewart Shadoff and Hsu both shot 65s to be two clear of a group of three, including Australian veteran Karrie Webb, who has 41 wins to her name. New Zealand’s former world No. 1 Lydia Ko and Australian Minjee Lee, ranked seven, are four strokes further back in the LPGA Tour event at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, alongside France’s Celine Boutier who won last week’s Vic Open.