Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko has made a mixed start to her first tournament of 2022, trailling the clubhouse leader by four shots, after her opening round at Orlando, Florida.
Returning to the course for the first time this year, Ko fired a one-under 71 in the opening round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, with four birdies and three bogeys.
The Kiwi got off to a rough start on her front nine, with back-to-back bogeys on the second and third holes, reaching halfway at two-over through nine holes.
But a stunning start to the back nine brought Ko back into contention and within a shot of the lead.
Starting with a birdie on the 11th hole, Ko went on a run of four birdies in five holes to move back to two-under par heading towards the end of her round.
But one last bogey on the 18th brought Ko back to one-under in a five-way tie for 14th place.
Mexico's Gaby Lopes holds the outright lead at five-under, while the American trio of Danielle Kang, Ryann O'Toole and Nelly Korda, as well as Japan's Yuka Saso, are one shot back in a four-way tie for second.
