Women’s PGA Championship: Lexi Thompson leads after first round

Lexi Thompson carded a 68 to move into a one-shot lead after the first round of the Women’s PGA Championship.

The American’s four-under-par round at the Sahalee Country Club, near Seattle, put her a shot ahead of compatriot Nelly Korda and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit.

England’s Charley Hull and Ireland’s Leona Maguire sat two shots off the lead following opening rounds of 70.

Thompson, who won her only major to date in 2014, plans to retire from full-time golf at the end of the 2024 LPGA Tour season.

The 29-year-old started off with three birdies in a row and added three more, along with two bogeys, in her round.

“It was overall just a great day,” said Thompson. “Can’t ask for better weather out there.

“I played solid golf. Just tried to stay in the moment.

“There was a lot of tough holes out there, so I just tried to visualise and pick small targets and take advantage of the few birdies that you get out there.”

Korda, 25, is looking for her seventh victory of the year and her second major title of the season.

Her round included a double bogey on the fourth along with six birdies and a bogey.

“Overall, I played pretty well,” Korda said. “I think I just had one bogey and one double. If you try to be aggressive when you’ve hit it off line, it just bites you in the butt. So I did on that hole.”

Hull’s round included a bogey on the sixth but she recovered with birdies on the seventh, 11th and 13th.

“I felt like I played pretty well out there,” said Hull. “Hit it pretty well. Pulled my hip out with like three holes to go, so I need to get some physio because it was affecting my swing. Hopefully they can sort it out for me.”

Defending champion Ruoning Yin of China reached one under after a 71.