Woods in Ladies Masters Mix

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Cheyenne Woods, niece of 14-time major winner Tiger, shot a five-under 67 to be four off the lead after the first round of the Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club. 

She is tied for sixth with four others, including Scotland's Kylie Walker.

German Caroline Masson and South Africa's Ashley Simon lead by three.

To qualify for next week's British Open, Woods, 23, needs to be among the top three finishers who have not already qualified for St Andrews.

England's Charley Hull, 17, is five shots off the pace after shooting a 68 and is tied 11th with several others, including Australia's multi-major winner Karrie Webb.

Another Englishwoman, 49-year-old Laura Davies - Britain's greatest ever female golfer - is level par. She is looking for at least a top-three finish as part of her bid to qualify for August's Solheim Cup between Europe and the US in Colorado.

American Woods is embarking on her first full season as a professional as part of the Ladies European Tour.

If she is unsuccessful at the European Masters, which runs from Friday to Sunday, she faces an anxious day in final qualifying at Kingsbarns Golf Club on Monday.

She said after Friday's first round: "I felt like I played really steady and that I hit the ball well, so overall it was a good day."

Hull came in for praise from Webb who said: "What a fantastic talent. Quite a big pairing for her today and she eagled the first hole.

"I don't know how many nerves were there but very impressive. I think she'll be around for a long time."

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Woods Plays in Women's US Open

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Tiger Woods' 21-year-old niece makes her US Women's Open debut in Wisconsin this week.

Cheyenne Woods turned professional earlier this season and came through qualifying to book her spot at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.

"I've not necessarily had advice, but support," said the Wake Forest graduate when asked about Tiger. "That's probably the biggest thing I can get - knowing he's excited I'm here.

"He's the best player in the world and I have him at my fingertips if I need help. It's nice to have.

"Watching Tiger play as I grew up I knew I wanted to get out there one day.

"I've grown up with the expectations and the pressure and I think that it has helped me get to where I am and prepare me for this next level.

"I've always said that I'm going on my own path. Tiger is a very elite athlete, not everybody can be Tiger Woods, so I'll just do what I can to be the best that I can."

The first time she watched her uncle play came before her second birthday - she was in a pushchair at the 1992 Los Angeles Open when he made his PGA Tour debut aged 16.

Making the cut - something he did not do that week - is the goal for Woods, but for world number one Yani Tseng it is to complete a career Grand Slam.

Only two years older than Woods, she has two British Women's Opens, two LPGA Championships and one Kraft Nabisco, but has a best finish of 10th in the US Open.

"I think it's nerves and pressure because the very first tournament I watched is the US Open when I was 13.

"My dream was playing it, now I'm trying to think of winning it - it's a very big step for me."

The winner when Tseng was 13 was American Juli Inkster and, now 52, she is playing the championship for the 33rd time.

That equals the record of Marlene Hagge for the most appearances by a champion and she said: "I just played golf because I loved it and 30 years later I still love it."