Japan's Nasa Hataoka shot a six-under-par 66 to take the lead after the opening round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. She holds a one-shot advantage over a group including world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and England's Lottie Woad. Nelly Korda sits two strokes back at four under par.
The 2026 LPGA Tour season began on January 29 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, where 39 professionals, all winners from the past two seasons, competed alongside 44 amateurs in a separate division. Nasa Hataoka of Japan seized the early lead with seven birdies and one bogey, carding a 66. She birdied two par-3s on the front nine but dropped a shot at the par-4 seventh before surging with back-to-back birdies at 10-11 and 15-16 on the back nine, including a long putt from the fringe at the par-5 11th. Hataoka credited her putting: 'I think my putting really good today, so that's why shoot 66. So, yeah, I'm happy with that result.' The 27-year-old, with nine top-10 finishes in LPGA majors, aims for a major title and more tournament wins this season. One stroke behind at five under (67) are Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, the world No. 1 who won the CME Group Tour Championship in November; Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand; Lottie Woad of England; and Linn Grant of Sweden. Woad, 22, who turned pro last summer after amateur wins at the Women's Irish Open and Women's Scottish Open, led briefly with six birdies through 14 holes but bogeyed the 18th. She noted the course's challenges: '(The course) definitely challenges you... the practice days were pretty cold... so it played a little bit easier today.' Thitikul, also 22 and seeking her first major, spoke of her approach: 'I don't even know how... I still trying to do, and then I think maybe you have to be grounded.' World No. 2 Nelly Korda of the United States and Amy Yang of South Korea are tied for sixth at four under (68), while defending champion A Lim Kim of South Korea and New Zealand's Lydia Ko opened with three-under 69s. England's Charley Hull is at two under (70). The 72-hole event has no cut.
