Golf: Lydia Ko begins Chevron Championship with best-ever start

Lydia Ko hits from a bunker to the 15th green during the first round of the LPGA Chevron Championship. Photo / AP

Lydia Ko has picked up where she left off at one of her favourite majors.

Back at Mission Hills, the scene of her incredible course record 10-under 62 in the final round in 2021, Ko has carded a four-under 68 in the first round of the Chevron Championship, the first major of the season.

While it wasn't as remarkable as her last round on the course, it was still effective, with the Kiwi sitting in a share of fourth at the end of the first round, two shots behind leaders Jennifer Kupcho and Minjee Lee.

Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit, who Ko nearly ran down last year before settling for second, is in solo third at five-under, while Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Masson, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Gabriela Ruffels make an array of strong contenders alongside Ko at four-under.

Ko picked up five birdies to go with a solitary bogey in her round, on a course that is second only to the Evian Championship in terms of her major results.

Formerly known as the ANA Inspiration before this year's sponsor change, Ko won here in 2016, finished sixth in 2020 and second in 2021, while she has never missed the cut, with her worst result in nine visits being a tie for 51st.

Today's four-under first round is the best Ko has managed in those visits, but the 24-year-old is preaching patience in her 10th attempt.

"The year that I won I didn't shoot super low, but I remember I had a really solid afternoon round.

"It's 72 holes just like all the other events we play but majors seem a little longer. That's why patience is such a big key around here, if you do make a mistake, not get too caught up on that and just move on and save it for the holes coming in."

Lydia Ko hits from a bunker to the 15th green during the first round of the LPGA Chevron Championship. Photo / AP

The windy conditions also tested that patience, with Ko one of the last players to tee off.

"When I saw the forecast, it was just going to continue to blow as the day went on. I knew I had to play pretty consistently and not get too frustrated if I did hit a missed shot.

"It's not easy out here and the winds don't make it any easier, so I just [have to be] patient and enjoy it."

The biggest surprise came in the struggles of world No 1 Jin Young Ko.

Ko had set a LPGA record with 34 straight under-par rounds, including a streak of 16 straight rounds of scores in the 60, on her way to winning six of her last 11 LPGA Tour starts.

But the 2019 victor at this course failed to make a birdie in a two-over 74 that sees her in a share of 78th.

"I was hitting lots of great shots, but my putting wasn't good," Ko said. "I couldn't see the break as much or speed, everything was wrong. I don't know what happened."