Women's British Open:An historic day deserved a signature moment and Lorena Ochoa, the best female golfer in the world, obliged yesterday when she stepped off the final green after the first round of the Women's British Open having reduced the Old Course to 67 shots.

Six birdies and 12 pars - and no bunkers visited - is a terrific effort in any circumstances, but to do it during your first competitive round at the Home of Golf is not only better than good, it was good enough to tempt the player from Mexico out of the shell of reticence where she spends much of her life.

"It was my round of the year," she said. "Did I expect to score like I did? I had it in my head, sure, but it turned out to be better than I thought it could be. I started off in good conditions and my rhythm was good, so I tried to make something really special."

All of that amounted to a major admission from a player whose modesty is matched by her ability to shape her shots and by her status as a sporting hero back home. Mexico is a hotbed of many things but not the Royal and Ancient game, yet Ochoa has cut through the indifference to become one of that country's most recognisable figures.

A victory on Sunday would not only end her inexplicable failure to win a major championship; it would elevate her from national hero to national deity. Her performance yesterday, coupled with the struggles of some of her main rivals, will have done little to quell expectations south of the Border. The world number two, Karrie Webb, shot a 77, and the 19-year-old American Morgan Pressel left the scorer's hut in tears after signing for an 80.

With the Road Hole inexplicably, and belittlingly, designated as a par-five for the tournament, Ochoa's 67 went down in the ledger as a six-under-par round. That gave her a two-shot lead over Louise Friberg of Sweden and Korea's Park In-bee, who was four under as she headed into the Old Course's tricky closing holes, and a three-shot advantage over Ai Miyazato of Japan.

Ireland's Rebecca Coakley shot a fine, one-over-par 74, including five birdies, with one at the last, to be in the top 40.

And amateur Danielle McVeigh from Royal Co Down Ladies produced a highly creditable, three-over-par 76 that included a birdie four at the famous 17th.

Michelle Wie returned a respectable level-par 73, although she deserved better for a round that contained enough good shots to suggest she is slowly recovering the form that made her the game's most exciting prospect, and Annika Sorenstam birdied the last two holes to sneak into the clubhouse with a 72.

"I played really well in very difficult conditions. The golf course is very tough. I am very very thrilled," said the former world number one.

Yet if the Swede was delighted, her mood was but nothing when measured against that of Rebecca Hudson, whose 70 left her in a tie for fourth place. The 28-year-old Englishwoman has yet to fulfil the promise of her amateur career since turning pro in 2003. Back then she was widely recognised as the best British amateur of her generation, but it is one thing playing for the honour and glory, and quite another to handle the pressure of playing for hard cash. It did not help, either, that despite her amateur record she could not find any sponsors.

A round of 62 at the European Open in Hungary two years ago finally convinced her that she might actually be able to compete at the highest level.

Guardian Service