Kiwi Lydia Ko has struggled to start the final Major of 2023, sitting in a tie for 79th after the opening round of the AIG Women's Open in Surrey, England.
Ko, 26, carded a two-over 74 in her first round, with four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
Entering the second round on Saturday morning (NZ time), the Kiwi is six shots off the pace, with American Ally Ewing leading the field at four-under after her first round.
After opening with a bogey on her opening hole, Ko made up ground on the leaders with back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth, completing her front nine at one-under.
But that advantage was quickly wiped away on the back nine, where Ko shot three-over.
Despite birdies on the 11th and 13th, a double-bogey on the 10th, and further bogeys on the 12th, 15th and 17th holes saw Ko slip further and further down the leaderboard.
While Ko would have hoped for victory to end a Major drought dating back to 2016, the Kiwi will now be battling just to make the cut when play resumes overnight.
