Australia's contingent at the Women's Open failed to make an impression in the first round, while England's Charley Hull sits on top of the leaderboard at St Andrews, Scotland.

Steph Kyriacou is the leading Australian after shooting a 4-over-par 76 in blustery conditions at the Old Course.

She is tied for 79th place, nine shots off the lead in the final major of the year.

Compatriots Hannah Green, the world number five, and Grace Kim are a stroke behind Kyriacou.

Australian two-time major winner Minjee Lee recorded two double bogeys and four bogeys to post a 6-over 78 to be among a group sharing 118th position.

World number 10 Hull, who was runner-up at last year's Women's Open, mixed one bogey with six birdies in windy conditions for a 5-under-par 67.

Hull is one shot clear of US world number one Nelly Korda and China's Ruoning Yin.

American Lilia Vu, who began her title defence with a huge putt for birdie from the edge of the green at the first hole, was among six players a further shot adrift after opening with a 69.

Only nine players managed to break 70 in the first round.

Hull, who went out in the afternoon wave alongside Korda and Vu, had her only blemish at the par-three eighth hole where she made bogey.

But she responded immediately with her second birdie of the day to reach the turn at 1-under.

Hull stormed home with four birdies over a flawless back nine that left her alone atop the leaderboard.

Reuters/ABC