Leaderboard: -8 A Iwai (Jpn); -6 P Delacour (Fra); -5 C Hull (Eng), M Stark (Swe), R Haeran (Kor), I Jin Hee (Kor); -4 C Gainer (Eng), L Woad (Eng), J Yan (US), R Yin (Chn), B Henderson (Can), E Hara (Jpn), M Kang (Kor)
Selected others: E L Maguire (Ire); +2 L Walsh (Ire); +3 N Korda (US); +5 M Rhodes (Eng)
Charley Hull laughed off suggestions her caddie’s ice cream helped fire her to third place after day one of the Evian Championship in southern France.
The 30-year-old was spotted holding the sweet treat on the 15th hole before closing with two birdies and an eagle to close at five under par, three shots behind Aki Iwai of Japan’s lead.
“I didn’t eat it,” she said. “My boyfriend got it for my caddie, so I held it for a minute when he was putting my club in the bag!”
In sweltering conditions, Hull was two over par after six holes but recovered to find five birdies over her next 11 holes before picking up two shots at the par-five 18th.
Her score of 66 is her joint-lowest first round in a major.
At the top of the pack, Iwai went bogey-free in her fine round of eight under par and is two clear of Perrine Delacour from France.
Hull shares third place with three other players, while compatriots Lottie Woad and Cara Gainer are a further shot back at four under.
World number one Nelly Korda, who won the first two majors of the 2026 season, has work to do on Friday after shooting a three-over 74 to languish in a share of 99th place.
