England’s Charley Hull and Bronte Law produced eye-catching ANA Inspiration opening rounds to compete in the first major tournament of the year.
Hull, 25, 26, Law each earned three under-par cards at Mission Hills Country Club in California.
They are in third place behind China’s Shanshan Feng – on five under – and Thailand on Patty Tavatanakit on six under.
World number one Jin Young Ko is one of several players to complete the first round.
The South Korean launched her challenge aggressively to reach a sub after two holes, while compatriot and world number two Inbee Park also landed a second shot to reach a sub.
Wie back with eye-catching round
Only half of the 120 players had completed their rounds when Hull and Law each concluded an impressive opening day.
Neither have won a major championship before, but Hull looked good pointing from the green for the Eagle on the 11th and duly added a birdie on the last one to finish three under.
Hull finished in the top 10 three times during the event, but Law has yet to make a top 10 spot in any major.
The Stockport-born player lost just one shot in her opening 18 holes, but to stay in sight.
China’s Feng is making her first Ladies PGA Tour start since 2019 and is a surprise first contender, while American Michelle Wie is within reach of two cents on what is her first LPGA start since 2019.
Wie, 31, took some time away from the Tour to overcome her injuries and give birth to her first child, but her first major championship round in 650 days proved to be eventful as she drained huge putts on the first and third hole and approached a hole. -in one on the 14th.
“I’m just happy to see my name on the first page of the leaderboard,” she told Golf Channel after her round. “It’s really special to me. It’s been a while since I saw this.”
The tournament – in its 50th consecutive edition – has been classified as a major tournament since 1983 and is considered extremely important due to the impetus it has given to the growth of women’s golf since 1971.
The top 15 players in the world are all on the pitch, with a $ 3.1million (£ 2.2million) prize fund being contested.
