JOIN USAditi Ashok shot a highly creditable 2-under 70 in demanding conditions at the Wildfire Golf Club in the opening round of the Bank of Hope Founders Cup.
This has only been her second start on the LPGA this season, after missing the cut in her season-opener in Australian Women's Open.
She is placed Tied-17th and is three shots behind co-leaders, Frenchwoman Karine Icher and Chella Choi, who carded 67 each. Korea's Inbee Park and Thai Ariya Jutanugarn shot 68 each to be Tied-3rd with four others.
Though the Wildfire course has yielded some low winning scores over the years, the wind really made scoring difficult. The wind and cooler conditions meant scores were higher than last year.
The hugely talented Indian golfer had five birdies against three bogeys in her 70.
Icher did not let the unseasonably cool conditions bother her. She made five birdies over her first eight holes. She added birdies on 11 and 14 to get to 7-under.
However, she faltered towards the end of her round as the wind picked up and made bogeys on 15 and 18. Icher playing on LPGA since 2003 has 45 career top 10 finishes, but no wins.
Late in the day, Chella Choi turned in a 67 to share the opening round lead. Choi started with four birdies in her first five holes and was bogey-free through 17 holes until a 3-putt at the last. PTI Cor AH AH
Slow start for Lahiri
In Orlando, Anirban Lahiri, who needs nothing less than a win to get into the Masters, opened the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a one-over 73 on Friday.
Lahiri held sole lead at one point but finished T-69th. Woods finished at 4-under and was placed Tied-7th.
Later in the afternoon, Henrik Stenson wielded a hot putter on Palmer's course with an 8-under 64 that put him on top of a star-studded field. Stenson was one clear of PGA TOUR rookies Aaron Wise and Talor Gooch. Both carded 65 with the former missing a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
Lahiri had a frustrating start missing a 6-foot par putt on first and a 11-foot birdie putt on Par-5 fourth. On fifth he went into rear green side bunker and came out short and bogeyed once again.
A fine bunker shot on sixth helped the Indian to a birdie on sixth, before he bogeyed Par-3 seventh, where he went into bunker once again and left a 17 foot par putt, which he missed.
Meanwhile, Woods grabbed all the focus as he finished with a 68, his best opening round since his return this year from a fourth back surgery.
He was Tied-7th alongside Patrick Reed and four others, including the top Asian, Byeong Hun An, and they all shot 68 each. Jimmy Walker, Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau carded 69 each in Tied-4th.
Woods once again who drew the crowds gave them quite a show. He hit a tee shot that was out of bounds by inches and ended with a double, but he made three birdies in next four holes. That included a 71-foot birdie putt on Par-3 seventh and ended the day at 68.