Evian Championship: Lottie Woad makes strong start to major as world No 1 Nelly Korda struggles on opening day in France

Lottie Woad made a strong start to her bid for a maiden major title at the Amundi Evian Championship, as Nelly Korda struggled on the opening day in France.

Woad, who finished tied-third in last year's event while still an amateur, posted a final-hole eagle to card a four-under 67 at the Evian Resort Golf Club and stay within four shots of Japan's Aki Iwai.

Iwai grabbed a three-shot clubhouse lead by posting eight birdies in a bogey-free 63, with former major champions Mao Saigo and KPMG Women's PGA Championship winner Haeran Ryu sharing second with Jin Hee Im.

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Woad is joined in the group on four under by former major winners Ruoning Yin and Brooke Henderson, as world No 1 Korda - who can complete a career Grand Slam with a victory - stuttered to an opening-round 74.

Charley Hull is among the afternoon starters alongside Lydia Ko and world No 2 Jeeno Thitikul, with defending champion Grace Kim among the later starters alongside former Evian Championship winners Ayaka Furue and Celine Boutier.

Korda struggles as Woad makes fast start

Woad, starting on the back nine in the marquee morning threeball alongside Korda and Ryu, birdied the 11th hole and picked up shots on the par-five 15th and 18th to reach the turn in 33.

She added back-to-back gains from the second to briefly move tied for the lead but bogeyed her next two holes, with Woad falling further behind when she failed to get up and down from off the green at the par-three eighth.

Woad responded by reaching the par-five ninth green in two and holing a 20-foot eagle, lifting her to four under, with playing partner Ryu a shot closer to the lead after mixing six birdies with a lone bogey in her opening-round 66.

"Pretty happy," Woad said. "I played good from tee to green for most of the day. I was five under and was going along quite nicely, then this golf course can get you in places if you miss a few fairways. Dropped a few [shots], but a nice eagle to finish."

Korda - chasing a third major win of the season - was one under after eight holes before dropping five shots in a six-hole stretch around the turn, including a double-bogey at the first, with the American 11 shots off the early lead despite a final-hole birdie.

Iwai birdied five of her last eight holes to grab the clubhouse lead, with Im looking set to be her closest challenger after six birdies in a nine-hole stretch before bogeying her final hole.

Who will win the Evian Championship? Coverage continues on Friday 11am on Sky Sports+, before starting at 9am over the weekend on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract.

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