Woad makes promising start at FM Championship

England's Lottie Woad four off the early pace at the LPGA's FM Championship, while South Africa's Casandra Alexander shoots course record on day one at KPMG Women's Irish Open; final events on women's tours live on Sky Sports this week before Solheim Cup from September 11

Lottie Woad made a strong start to the final week of play before next month's Solheim Cup by shooting a four-under opening round at the LPGA Tour's FM Championship.

England's Woad is one of 12 members of Anna Nordqvist's European team heading to the Netherlands for the September 11-13 showpiece, live on Sky Sports , and she shot a 68 at TPC Boston on Thursday to sit four shots off the pace set by Korea's Sei Young Kim.

Woad, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour since turning professional last year, picked up all four of her birdies on the front nine to go out in 32 before parring all the remaining holes.

"I hit pretty much every fairway. The rough is pretty thick out there, so you need to hit the fairways.

"Hit some pretty close shots on some holes and then did well on the par-5s getting on greens, so just kind of had tap-ins on the front nine."

"Just a couple tee shots on the back nine that missed the fairway kind of made them par holes rather than birdie holes, so just try and clean up that tomorrow."

Kim, who started on the 10th, claimed six birdies and one eagle - on the par-five seventh - in her round of 64.

Denmark's Emily Kristine Pedersen and Japan's Miyu Yamashita finished at seven-under with Somi Lee at six-under making it two Koreans in the top four.

Following the perfect path 👏 @HullCharley is back to even at the @FM_Champ_ pic.twitter.com/v16dqNLAOM

Solheim Cup team-mate Charley Hull shot a one-under 71 while world No 1 Nelly Korda, who will spearhead Angela Stanford USA's side, shot a level-par 72.

Meanwhile, European captain Nordqvist - who on Wednesday unexpectedly announced she was retiring from playing professional golf after this week - opened her swansong tournament on tour at two-over par.

On day one of the Ladies European Tour's rain-hit KPMG Women's Irish Open, Casandra Alexander made a storming start by firing a course record 63 to lead the way on nine-under.

After Italy's Alessandra Fanali set the pace with a 67 at The K Club's Palmer South Course, Alexander shot four shots lower thanks to four birdies on the front nine followed by five on the back.