Veteran Juli Inkster was the surprise early leader as the British Open got underway in Sunningdale, England on Thursday. (Alistair Grant/Associated Press)

Juli Inkster had an eagle and five birdies Thursday in a record-tying 7-under 65 to take the early lead at the Women's British Open.

Inkster, at 48 trying to become the oldest winner of a major title, was one of the earliest players out on the Sunningdale course west of London and made the turn at 4-under 32, helped by an eagle at the par-4 ninth.

She is one stroke ahead of seven players — Ji-Yai Shin, Ji Young Oh, Yuri Fudoh, Momoko Ueda, Jo Head, Laura Diaz and Stacy Prammanasudh.

"Today I played really well," Inkster said. "I played aggressive when I needed to and I really only missed one green and that was on the par-3, 15th."

Defending Open champion Lorena Ochoa finished four strokes behind.

Ochoa birdied the first two holes and was 5-under after 15. But two bogeys toward the end of her round left her at 69.

"On the 17th tee, I got really mad, a bad drive off the tee and I didn't hit a good chip," she said. "But the rest, I have no complaints. I think the first day I'm not worried."

Meanwhile, Annika Sorenstam had a miserable start to her final major, finishing at 72.

At one stage, Sorenstam was 3-over after bogeys at three of the first six holes. She finally birdied the ninth, picked up more shots after the turn, but is still seven strokes behind the leader.

"I was looking forward to a wonderful day, but I've never made as many bogeys as I have the last three months and it's driving me crazy," Sorenstam said. "I don't know what to do. It's so disappointing that I can't post something low. It seems like I can't play 18 holes."

Sorenstam, 37, is retiring from tournament play.

Inkster has won seven majors but never the British Open and none since the 2002 Women's U.S. Open.

She said her game was so bad she thought about not travelling to Europe for last week's Evian Masters and the British Open but her teenage daughters, Hayley and Cori, persuaded her.

"I wasn't really quite sure I wanted to come and the reason I came is because my kids would kill me if I didn't," Inkster said. "I was playing so bad that it wasn't even fun."

Inkster shot three sub-70 rounds at the Evian Masters but faded to tie for ninth. But Thursday's 65 at Sunningdale tied the record for the opening round for the Women's British Open.

Prammanasudh was twice tied with Inkster at 7-under but each time she drew even she followed with bogeys at Nos. 15 and 17.

Inbee Park, the Women's U.S. Open champion, was in even worse shape, shooting a 2-over 74.

She dropped a shot at the opening hole and had double-bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6 to reach the turn at 4-over 40.

Hamilton's Alena Sharp shot a 77.