A rocky back-nine has left New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko four shots behind the world's latest teenage golf sensation after the opening round of the US Women's Open.
Ko, who knows what it's like to lead tournaments while still growing up, dropped four shots in four holes on her way back to the clubhouse on the Lake Course at the Olympic Club.
The two bogeys and one double bogey took Ko from a very strong position at three-under par, to the middle of the pack, before a birdie on the 17th left the world's eighth-ranked golfer at even par for the day; enough to sit in a tie for 16th.
Despite those inconsistencies, Ko herself was happy with her game on a course she says can be extremely unforgiving.
"You have to be grinding out there and be patient. Birdies are hard and it's easy to make mistakes," Ko told media following the round.