Golf: Rare poor start for Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko has made a slow return to the LPGA tour with a two over 73 to start the Kingsmill Championship.

Ko headlined a trio with Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson but none of the top three ranked golfers broke par. Thompson was one over and Park after a month out because of injury finished with a three over 74.

World No 1 Ko had a disappointing bogey, bogey finish to her round which included another bogey, a double and three birdies on the Virginia course where she finished in a tie for 16th last year and 5th in 2014.

She has returned to work after a two week break in Florida following her tie for 6th at the Swinging Skirts tournament.

"It was definitely time for me to go home. I missed it," Ko said.

"I'd say I normally don't get homesick, but I felt like it was time to get out of living out of a suitcase. So it was definitely good to go back to Orlando. I guess the second week I just kind of chilled out. It was almost like I was hibernating, sleeping until like 3:00 p.m."

American Brittany Lincicome was the early leader with a five under par 66 and defending champion Minjee Lee made a strong start to be three under after her opening five holes.