Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko is drawing on past success at the LPGA's Marathon Classic to rediscover her best form and so far it's working.
Ko, 23, shares the lead after the opening round at Ohio's Highland Meadows Golf Club, carding a seven-under-par 64. Her round featured eight birdies and one bogey on the par-three eighth.
"I hit a few shots that were tap-in range," she reflects. "When you have 3-4 of those opportunities, it definitely takes the stress off the putter, which is where I was struggling last week."
American Danielle Kang matched her score without bogey, with fellow American Megan Khang sitting a shot back in third.
As a teenager, Ko was the youngest player - male or female - to reach No.1 in world rankings, but she's struggled in recent years, currently ranked 55th.
Her last tournament victory was the Mediheal Championship in April 2018, but she has found memories of the Sylvania course, where she's won twice before in 2014 and 2016, and made the top 10 twice.
"It's good to be back," she says. "It helps you draw on good memories.
"I hit some not-so-good shots, but I got really lucky, where I had an opening and could go for the green."
Ko hasn't played at Highland Meadows for two years and this event is being staged without spectators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
