A red-hot Lydia Ko has hurtled to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the LPGA event in Florida on Friday (NZ time).
The Kiwi world No. 1 reeled off a total of nine birdies at the Gainbridge LPGA to finish at nine-under par 63, holding a two-shot lead over second-placed American Danielle Kang.
Starting on the back nine, Ko began with an ominous birdie, before shooting three-straight from the 13th to the 16th holes, then repeating the feat from the first to the third.
Coming off the back of her top-10 finish at the season-opening event at her local Lake Nona, the 24-year-old was in vintage form, hitting the green 16 from 18 times in regulation, where she was on fire with her putter.
India's Aditi Ashok sits one shot behind Kang in third.
