Charley Hull’s bid to go one better than last year at the AIG Women’s Open got off to an excellent start as a birdie on the final hole carried her into the lead after the first round.

A runner-up at Walton Heath 12 months ago, Hull defied chilly and gusty conditions at the Old Course at St Andrews as she signed for a five-under 67 after finishing with a flourish.

Hull was initially wayward with just three greens in regulation in her opening eight holes but she gradually gained in fluency and a birdie on the ninth meant she was in credit at the turn.

Four more birdies on the back nine followed, including on the final hole thanks to a fine chip and putt, to give her a one-shot advantage over world number one Nelly Korda and China’s Ruoning Yin.

“I would take that 100 per cent,” she said, after a round that ended just before 7:30pm on Thursday. “I’m happy with that score, and I’m just looking forward to going out tomorrow and being patient again.

 

“I was watching it on the TV when I saw the scores, and I thought, how is (Yin) four-under-par? That was an unbelievable score. To go out there, shoot five-under, play pretty solid, it was a lot of fun.

“I’d say the last three holes were a bit easier. (The wind) dropped. But making the turn it was really, really strong. It was very strong. It got really cold there as well.

“I’ve always been patient, and I hit some great, great shots. I’m obviously on home soil, so it’s great to see people out there. I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m just going to enjoy every minute of it.”

Hull, who is chasing a first major title this week after three runners-up finishes, was in elite company on Thursday in a playing group with Korda and world number two and defending champion Lilia Vu.

Despite the evening gloom, Hull was wearing sunglasses in the closing stages when not playing a shot, admitting she did so to shield her eyes from the wind.

“I know it sounds silly, but my nose and my eyes just water all the time,” the 28-year-old from Kettering added. “So whenever I put my glasses on, it stops them watering.

“Even though it’s not sunny, it may look silly, but that’s the reason why. I was thinking ‘people must think I’m like a right idiot’, but it’s because they were stopping the wind.”