World number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico acknowledges applause from the crowd after putting on the first green during the Women's British Open golf tournament at the Old Course at the Royal and Ancient Golf Clubin St Andrews, Scotland, yesterday. Ochoa finished the round 6 under par. - AP

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP):

Lorena Ochoa took a step toward her first major championship, taking advantage of calm, sunny conditions yesterday for a 6-under 67 and the early lead at the Women's British Open.

On a historic day when women's professional golf made its debut at St. Andrews, the 25-year-old Mexican star set out to make history for herself.

The number one player in the world made three straight birdies around the loop starting at number eight and kept bogeys off her card to keep her name atop the leaderboard among early finishers.

Good day

"It was just a really good day, one of those days when things are easy and really good," Ochoa said. "There was only a little bit of a breeze, and I took advantage of that and made some birdies. I had in my head 2 or 3 under, so it's even better than I thought.

A Swede was two shots back and it wasn't Annika Sorenstam.

Louise Friberg, who is yet to win a tournament, made six birdies in her 69, which was spoiled by two bogeys on the back nine. Sorenstam, the 10-time major winner, birdied the last two holes for a 1-under 72.

Ai Miyazato of Japan shot 70, while Michelle Wie showed signs of straightening out her game with an even-par 73. Wie was two shots behind Ochoa until bogeys on two of the final five holes.

"It was semi-disappointing and semi-successful," said Wie, who's recovering from an injured left wrist and has failed to break 70 in over a year. "It's the first time I've played really solidly, but I missed some reasonably easy putts. I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel now."