The 22-year-old, a second-year Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour member, made every clutch putt she needed and holed out a bunker shot for birdie on her way to a bogey-free four-under-par 68 on a windy and wet day.

That left her one stroke better off than South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo, winner of the 2014 Evian Championship, and England’s Melissa Reid, who has one top-10 finish in a major – finishing ninth at the 2015 British Open. 

Among those tied for fourth with rounds of 70 are two-times major winners Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and Park Sung-hyun, the defending champion, of South Korea.

They are joined by two other South Koreans, Kim In-kyung and Amy Yang, as well as China’s Lin Xiyu and the United States' Annie Park.

Green, whose best finish in a major is a tie for 16th place at last year’s ANA Inspiration, did not need to use her putter at all on the par-five seventh – her 16th hole of the day – as she holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie.

"I short-sided myself," Green said about the wedge she had tugged into the bunker.

"But I actually had a really good lie which I think made a huge difference.

"As soon as it landed on the green, I knew there was a chance of it going in.

"I guess I just had a lot of luck today with putts going in and getting good bounces."

World number one Ko Jin-young was among those to struggle, finishing the day tied for 102nd at five over.

Five-times LPGA Tour winner Michelle Wie – returning to competition for the first time after two months out with a wrist injury – winced her way to a painful 12-over-par 84.

"It was kind of a little foolish to think that I would shoot really well, just hitting golf balls last week, at Hazeltine," said the American, whose wrist was operated on in October.

"I'm really happy that I played – feeling a lot of joy just being out there and competing again.

"It's going to take time and I've got to be patient, and, thankfully, I have all afternoon to get warm again and take care of my wrist."