Lindberg carded a seven-under-par score of 65 at Rancho Mirage, having been one of the final players to take to the course in the first of this year's five major championships of professional women's golf.

She ended with a narrow lead, with Japan’s Ayako Uehara and Beatriz Recari lying a shot adrift after impressive opening rounds.

"I just set a number for myself in my head every day," Lindberg said.

"Today, I kind of kept adjusting that all day when I kept making birdies, and I even kind of upped my own number.

"That's what I'm going to do every day."

It was an impressive day for Scandinavian players as Iceland’s Ólafía Kristinsdóttir marked her debut at the major in style.

Kristinsdóttir achieved a hole-in-one on the par three 17th, earning earned her two tickets from ANA to use at any destination of her choice in the world.

Kristinsdóttir still, however, ended the day some way down the field by shooting an even round.

Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela, United States’ Jessica Korda and South Korea’s Ha Na Jang are among those chasing the leader.

The trio are two shots behind Lindberg. 

Lexi Thompson is one of six players on four-under-par as the American looks to banish memories of the four-stroke penalty that cost her victory last year.

South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon, who ultimately beat Thompson in a playoff to triumph in 2017, endured a difficult opening day.

She carded a three-over-par 75, leaving her 10 shots off the pace after one day of action.