Two late bogeys cost Lydia Ko during the opening round of the CME Group Tour Championship on the LPGA Tour in Florida.
The Kiwi, ranked third on the Race to the CME Globe standings heading in to the tournament, signed for a one-under 71 today as she dropped shots at the 15th and 16th holes, although she did make a birdie at 17, to end the day in a share of 13th.
Up to the 14th hole, she had enjoyed a flawless day out with two birdies and a string of pars as she played alongside the tour's top two players for the year in Stacy Lewis (-3, tied for 3rd) and Inbee Park (-1).
Ko could push to the top of the LPGA Tour's order of merit - known as the Race to the CME Globe standings - if she was to win this weekend, which would also net her a $1.89m bonus to add to her 1.7m in season earnings.
The teenager is five shots back from leader Julieta Granada who opened with a six-under 66, while Germany's Sandra Gal is in outright second after she fired a four-under 68.
