Davies turns back clock

The 43-year-old veteran has not won on the LPGA Tour in America for nearly six years, but she turned back the clock with a round of five birdies and an eagle to tie at the top with Mexico's Lorena Ochoa.

 "I made an eagle at the third and that got the round going," said a delighted Davies, who won the European Tour Order of Merit for a record seventh time last year.

 "My only bogey was three putts at the long ninth, but it was a great way to start the tournament. I've been playing very consistently this season and the driver was going well today which was the key."

Davies, who has 20 LPGA wins and needs two more to get into the Hall of Fame, added:  "I won a tournament in Norway last year but it would be great to win on this Tour again."

 The highlight of the round for Davies was the eagle at the long third where she hit a two iron second shot 230-yards and holed the 25-foot putt. 

Ochoa is poised to take over the world number one spot from Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, who withdrew from the event with a back injury that is likely to keep her on the sidelines for at least a month.

 A doctor in Florida diagnosed a ruptured and bulging disc in her back - the next step is to see a neurosurgeon in Miami. She hopes to be back in time for the Ginn Tribute in South Carolina starting on May 31. It is a new LPGA tournament and Sorenstam is the official host.

 Sorenstam has been at the head of the world rankings for six years, but Ochoa was the top player on Tour last year with six wins and she won the Safeway International last month.

 The 25-year-old from Guadalajara had eight birdies to sit alongside Davies. They were one ahead of American Brittany Lincicome, with the group tied for fourth on 68 including the defending champion from South Korea, Mi Hyun Kim.