Lydia Ko and Carlota Ciganda share first round lead at Saudi Ladies International

Former World No.1 Lydia Ko was at her brilliant best in the first round of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund, after posting an impressive five under par 67 to share the first round lead with Spaniard Carlota Ciganda.

The Kiwi, who is making her first appearance in the Kingdom, showed her star power over Royal Greens Golf & Country Club with six birdies and just one dropped shot on the 12th.

The two-time Major winner had begun her tournament on the 10th, alongside last year’s champion Emily Kristine Pedersen and Franziska Friedrich, which saw her miss out on the difficult prevailing winds from the Red Sea, which tend to pick up around midday.

“I think we were pretty lucky to tee off at the 10th this morning to avoid most of the wind, it was pretty still conditions out there for our group,” said Ko.

“I didn’t drive it very well, but every time I did miss it, I didn’t put myself in that much trouble. I hit it into the desert once and managed to get pretty lucky with my lie. My iron play was really good, which gave me a lot of opportunities, and I holed a few putts so hopefully I can sharpen up the tee shots tomorrow.”

“Everyone plays once in the morning and once in the afternoon so we’re all going to have to experience that wind, but teeing off the 10th was definitely a little bit helpful."

Ko returns tomorrow for her second round at 11:43 local time, so what’s the game plan to deal with the tricky conditions?

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be pretty breezy when we get underway tomorrow afternoon, but it’s going to cool down a bit which is nice,” she said. “I just have to play smart and be aggressive, even though it is windy there are some getable holes, so I’ve just got to trust my game and see where that takes me.”

Ciganda, out in the afternoon, wasted no time in closing the gap, carding six birdies en route to a five-under front nine, before a more controlled display round the course’s notoriously windy back nine.

“I started very well with two birdies in the first two holes, bogeyed the third, but then made some very good shots and played very solid, managing to shoot five-under on the front nine," said Ciganda.

“I really enjoyed the course although there was the wind and it was really hot. In the afternoon it gets windy so it is tricky, but the more you play the more you know what the weather is going to do, so maybe tomorrow morning it will get easier. I am excited for tomorrow and will hopefully have a good score.”

The pair sit one ahead of Swedish pair Johanna Gustavsson and Linnea Strom, and Kim Metraux of Switzerland, who are on -4.

Triple Major winner and 2021 AIG Open champion Anna Nordqvist sits four off the lead on one-under-par, Dame Laura Davies is at level par, while defending Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF champion Emily Kristine Pedersen sits at +1

Dubai-based duo Chiara Noja and Alison Muirhead both struggled after posting rounds of 78 and 79 respectively.