Champ Lydia Ko Takes First-Round Lead in Swinging Skirts

DALY CITY, Calif. — As Lydia Ko geared up to turn 18 on Friday at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, right behind her on the leaderboard was 54-year-old Juli Inkster.

Refreshed and ready to make a run at defending her title, the top-ranked Ko returned from two weeks off to take the first-day lead Thursday at 5-under 67.

Ko nearly chipped in for eagle on the par-5 14th, but the ball deflected off the pin and she settled for a tap-in birdie putt, and that moved her to the top of the leaderboard at Lake Merced Golf Club.

"This is a very tough golf course. You need to position yourself well," Ko said. "I hit the ball pretty good where I wasn't in too much trouble. If I did miss it a little bit, I…