Lexi Thompson tied for lead at Evian Championship

Lexi Thompson picked up five shots in four holes in a five-under-par 66 to claim a share of the lead with Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea in the opening round of the Evian Championship on Thursday in Evian-les-Bains, France.

The 20-year-old American made a superb start to the final major of the season at the picturesque resort above Lake Geneva, then managed to stay bogey-free.

Thompson, who was given an early morning start on the back nine in perfect weather conditions, was the sole leader for most of the day until Lee made up for two bogeys with seven birdies to tie for first place.

Thompson’s hot streak started when she birdied the 12th hole. Then she hit a seven-iron to 20 feet and sank an eagle putt on the 13th, and birdied Nos. 14 and 15.

She and Lee have a one-shot lead over former U.S. Open champion Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea, Gerina Piller of the U.S., and Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand.

“It feels great to have a stretch of holes like that,” Thompson said. “But you just have to take one shot at a time and not get ahead of yourself because, I mean, shots can get away from you out here. If you hit it in the rough, the rough’s pretty thick.”

Thompson won the Kraft Nabisco last year for her first major title, and took the Meijer Classic in July for her fifth career title. She has three top-10 finishes in her last five starts, and will play in the Solheim Cup matches next week in Germany against Europe.