Salas leads Women's PGA Championship

Lizette Salas set the tone in the first round of the Women's PGA Championship, posting a five-under-under-67 for the lead.

Salas earned a one-stroke lead after missing only two fairways on the Highlands Course at Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia on Thursday.

In a flawless round, Salas – without a LPGA Tour title since 2014 and seeking a maiden major trophy – holed five birdies to end the day ahead of Charley Hull.

"It was definitely not easy," the 31-year-old American said about the conditions. "We started with pretty wet conditions this morning, but the greens are rolling extremely pure.

"I had a really good warm-up. I was really confident coming into this week, and I think my game really suits this golf course and kept it boring."

Your early clubhouse leader from the first round of @KPMGWomensPGA: @LizetteSalas5Check out her Day 1 highlights pic.twitter.com/aIId9RfAVT
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 24, 2021

Jeongeun Lee6, Austin Ernst, Jessica Korda, Alena Sharp, Xiyu Lin, Yealimi Noh and Dani Holmqvist are two shots off the pace.

Three-time PGA Championship winner Inbee Park shot a 71 to be tied for 23rd, while defending champion Kim Sei-young endured a forgettable four-over-par 76.