Lottie Woad: the English star took the lead in the LPGA Tour season-opening Tournament of Champions in Florida | Golf news

England's Lottie Woad is just one shot off the lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour's season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida.

Woad mixed six birdies with a solitary bogey during an opening-round 67 at Lake Nona Golf and Country, leaving her tied for second and one shot behind early leader Nasa Hataoka.

The Englishwoman chained three birdies in a four-hole sequence from the third to take advantage of the par-five ninth, then added successive birdies from the 13th before a final bogey brought her back to five under.

Woad shares second place with world number 1 Jeeno Thitikul, Chanettee Wannasaen and Sweden's Linn Grant, while Hataoka took an early lead after finishing a six-under 66 with two birdies on her last four holes.

“It could have been better, it could have been worse,” Woad said afterward. “I need to work on my drive a little bit. I just missed a few fairways. The last hole, I shouldn't have missed there. Other than that, everything was pretty solid.

“I feel like I'm being pretty strategic and charting my path. I want to keep it that way.”

Thitikul made six birdies and a bogey Thursday to climb the rankings in a tournament open to LPGA Tour winners from the last two seasons. Wannasaen made seven birdies during his round of 67, while Grant birdied his final two holes to also move into the group at five under.

Nelly Korda is two points off the pace after two bogeys in her final three holes dropped her to four under with Amy Yang, Lydia Ko is in the five-player group opening with a three-under 69 and England's Charley Hull five behind after a two-under 70.

Watch the second round of The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions live Friday from 4:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Mix. Get Sky Sports Or stream without contract.

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