Minjee Lee of Australia shot an eight-under-par 63 in the first round of the LPGA Palos Verdes Championship on Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead over world number one Ko Jin-young.

Lee had eight birdies after tying for third at the LA Open, which was held just up the road from this week’s location in Palos Verdes Estates.

Lee said she practised lightly this week because it pays “to keep your legs fresh,” and she had five birdies on her second nine holes — the front nine on the tough course.

“There are a lot of birdie opportunities starting the front nine,” said Lee, who counts a major title at last year’s Evian Championship among her six LPGA victories.

“Even, like, the first hole and the second and third, they’re all wedges in. I just think there are a lot of opportunities in a row that you can kind of capitalize on.”

While Lee is looking to capitalise on her strong performance at Wilshire Country Club last week, Ko is looking to rebound.

Late in the third round, the South Korean star was tied for the lead with eventual champion Nasa Hataoka, but a quadruple-bogey eight on the penultimate hole dropped him to a tie for 21st place.

“Before starting today’s round, I just remind (myself) just golf is golf,” Ko said. “Don’t think about last week. Starting again, new routine.

“Get the routine like step by step, and don’t think about future. Just feel my body and feel my mind and just enjoy.”

With that approach, Ko overcame an early bogey on the 13th and finished one-under after birdies on the 15th and 18th holes.

Then, from the second to the seventh hole, she made six consecutive birdies to shoot a 64, propelling her to the top of the leaderboard.

The 6,258-yard Palos Verdes course, Ko remarked, provided an unusual challenge with its tiny greens.

“This week is shorter than last week. Greens are really, really small and we have to focus. Middle of the green is just like maximum 20 feet for putt.

“So, yeah, it’s kind of fun, this course. I’m enjoying.”

On 65, Charley Hull of England, Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand, and Jennifer Chang of the United States tied for third.

In their six-under efforts, Chang and Moriya both had six birdies without a bogey, while Hull had eight birdies but two bogeys.

It was a further nod to Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland and Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland.

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