England's Laura Davies outwitted 16-year-old playing partner Michelle Wie and was happy to settle for a level-par 72 in the opening round of the Weetabix Women's British Open today.

Wie, among the hot favourites at Royal Lytham & St Anne's, opened with three bogeys but birdied the last for a 74.

The last major of the year began with the howling winds of earlier in the week having given way to near-perfect calm and sunny conditions.

Davies and Wie had both risen at 4.30am for the 7.36am tee-time, and the youngster made a sleepy start, hitting through the green at the short first and then mis-hitting tee shots for further bogeys at the second and third.

But she saved her best for last, powering a five-iron second shot 170 yards at the 18th to within a couple of inches of the hole.

"You think you know links golf, but I guess you don't," said the American player who finished tied third on her debut at Birkdale last year.

"I was up at 4.30am and spent a little time in the gym but I still just felt half alive. I couldn't get any momentum going.

"It was also a little weird because my mind set was on hitting low shots in strong winds. But I really should have adapted a little quicker."

Davies, who made birdies at the seventh, 11th and 15th, was satisfied with her opening effort.

"I was two over after five holes but then settled," said the 42-year-old, who won the title 20 years ago. "It wasn't a great round, but it was decent and steady and I feel pretty pleased.

"Michelle hit some great shots and you're more surprised that she's two over than two under. But this is a very hard golf course and she got a little unlucky with some tee shots."

European number one Gwladys Nocera, from France, was among a group of early leaders on two-under-par 70.

The 31-year-old, who has three wins in Europe this year, had four birdies and was tied in the clubhouse with American Alison Hanna and Sweden's Nina Reis.