Leona Maguire's struggles continued after a difficult start at the US Women's Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.
After back-to-back missed cuts on tour, the Cavan golfer was hoping for a fast start in the latest major of the season, but instead she carded a disappointing 76 to sit on four over par in a share of 105th place.
Starting on the 10th, Maguire opened with four pars before a disastrous double bogey at the par-five 14th, where she found sand.
Further dropped shots would arrive at the 17th and second before Maguire claimed her first birdie at the third. However, a bogey on the penultimate hole of her round left her eight shots off the first-round leaders.
Six women sit at the summit on four under, with Yealimi Noh, Angel Yin, 2020 champion A Lim Kim, Jinhee Im, Julia Lopez Ramirez and Rio Takeda topping a congested leaderboard.
Lopez Rameriz had a bogey-free round at her first US Women’s Open, while Takeda made six birdies over a nine-hole stretch.
Noh closed out the day on a high note, birdieing the par-five 18th to secure her share of the lead.
"US Opens are always very grand, and coming in, Erin Hills definitely lived up to the expectations. Everything’s big – the fairways, the walks, need big drives, but it’s an incredible golf course," she told LPGA.
"It was a very solid day. Hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. My putting was good around the greens. I didn’t chip around too much, so that made it more simple."
Top-ranked player Nelly Korda, chasing her first US Women’s Open title, finished the day on 72 to tie for eighth.
"First day of the US Open, it’s all about patience," Korda told a press conference at the end of the first round.
"I’m striking it pretty well, so hopefully I can carry that into the next couple days."
World number two Jeeno Thitikul carded a 75, while third seed Lydia Ko shot 73.
