AIG Women’s Open: Charley Hull grabs early lead with Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu chasing at windy St Andrews | Golf News

Charley Hull made the dream start to her bid for a maiden major title by grabbing a one-shot lead after the opening round of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.

Hull – who finished runner-up in last year’s contest – produced six birdies with a lone bogey on a windy day around the Old Course, with a five-under 67 seeing her top the leaderboard ahead of former major champion Ruoning Yin and world No 1 Nelly Korda.

Korda was playing alongside Hull and produced a birdie-birdie finish to get within one of the lead, while defending champion Lilia Vu – completing that marquee threeball – sits just two strokes back after an impressive opening-round 69.

Former major champion Patty Tavatanakit matched Korda’s late birdie burst to join Vu in the group on three under, while Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko and 2018 Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall both started with one-under 71s.

Stars impress at windy St Andrews

The R&A had warned pre-tournament that weather delays were ‘a risk’ because of the strong winds forecast on the opening day, although the first round was completed without suspension despite brutal conditions and a slow pace of play.

Yin delivered a stunning start in the worst of the winds in the morning wave, where only four players posted rounds under par, with five birdies in a seven-hole stretch briefly taking her four ahead and threatening a course record.

The former KPMG Women’s PGA champion then bogeyed two of her last four holes to finish with a four-under 68, which remained the lead until Hull made her charge up the leaderboard.

Hull responded to a bogey at the par-three eighth by birdieing three of her next four holes, then bounced back from failing to take advantage of a fortunate break off a rake at the par-five 14th to birdie the next and move level with Yin.

The 28-year-old capped off an impressive opening day with a birdie at the par-four last to move into the outright advantage, while Korda birdied three of her last five holes to stay within one of her playing partner.

More to follow…

Who will win the AIG Women’s Open? Watch all four rounds live this week on Sky Sports! Live coverage of the second round continues on Friday at midday on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the women’s majors and more sport with NOW.