Lydia Ko Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has had her struggles in the first round of the PGA Championship in New Jersey.
Her chances in the second major of the year could have already disappeared after firing an opening round three over par 74.
Her round incluided five bogies and two birdies.
She's tied for 61st, eight shots behind the leader Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa.
Pace has a one shot lead over Canadian Brooke Henderson and Xiyu Lin and Ruoning Yin of China.
Ko's best result at the PGA Championship was second in 2016.
The 26-year-old went into the tournament in mixed form, having missed the cut in her most recent event.
"I just try to keep being positive, and I think that's sometimes been a struggle," Ko said on the eve of the PGA Championship.
"I think it's been frustrating the last couple months, but my team and my family have been trying to keep me grounded and say, 'Hey, we're still moving in the right direction.'"
Defending champion Chun In Gee of South Korea fired a three over par 74 while world number one Jin Young Ko of South Korea had a one over par 72.