No fewer than 44 of America's finest flew over for this, the first Women's British Open that has been designated a major championship. But the pacesetters at Sunningdale after 36 holes were two Scots, Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie, an Englishwoman, Trish Johnson, and a Korean, Mi Hyun Kim.

Matthew is the outright leader on a nine-under total of 135 following a hole in one at the 15th, while the rest are seven under. The best American clubhouse score is that of Rosie Jones, a further two shots behind.

Matthew had the luck a potential major winner needs with her ace. First the ball got a left-angled bounce on to the green and then hit the hole at a pace which might have taken it 10-15 feet past. Instead it chose to dive in and that, combined with six birdies and only one bogey, meant a seven-under round of 65.

Karrie Webb, the world number one, was also happier with her score, recovering from a first-round 74 with a 67 to take her to three under, but Annika Sorenstam, number two in the world, could only manage a 74, to finish on 144. The leading amateur Rebecca Hudson birdied the last for a 70 and a total of 141.