Evian Championship: Charlie Hull is tied for third after the opener.

Leader board: -8 A. Iwai (Japan); -6 P Delacour (Fra); -5 C Hull (Eng), M Stark (Swe), R Heeran (Cor), I Jin Hee (Cor); -4 C Gainer (Eng), L Wade (Eng), J Yan (US), R Yin (Chn), B Henderson (Chan), E Hara (Jpn), M Kang (Cor)

Other selected: E L Maguire (Eire); +2 L Walsh (Ire); +3 N Corda (USA); +5 M. Rhodes (Eng.)

Charlie Hull laughed off suggestions that Caddy’s ice cream helped her finish third day after day at the Evian Championships in southern France.

The 30-year-old appeared to have his sweet treat at the 15th hole before closing with two birdies and an eagle to close on five over, three shots behind leader Aki Iwai of Japan.

“I didn’t eat it,” she said. “My boyfriend got it for my caddy, so I held it for a minute while he put my club in the bag!”

In swing mode, Hull was two over after six holes but recovered to make five birdies over the next 11 holes.

Her 66 was the joint-lowest first-round score at a major.

At the top of the pack, Iwai is bogey-free in a perfect eight rounds, two clear of France’s Perrin Delacour.

Hull shares third place with three other players, while compatriots Lottie Wood and Cara Gainer are a further shot at four under.

World number one Nellie Korda, who won the first two majors of the 2026 season, shot a three-over 74 to finish tied for 99th on Friday.