LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Juli Inkster has a daughter the same age as Michelle Wie, and the 46-year-old won her first two majors six years before the 16-year-old from Honolulu was even born.

Yesterday, the woman seeking to become the oldest golfer to win an LPGA Tour major was much more impressive than the teenager trying to become the youngest to accomplish the feat.

Inkster shot a 6-under 66 to take a three-shot lead over Sweden's Maria Hjorth and Italy's Silvia Cavalleri after the first round of the Women's British Open.

"I played very well all day. It's a tough golf course," Inkster said.

Wie began her first visit to the Royal Lytham links with three bogeys and finished at 2-over 74, eight shots off the lead.

"My first few tee shots weren't the greatest," Wie said. "But it's long gone. I felt like I played well the back nine, although I struggled a bit. I made a great birdie at the last hole."

Wie came into the tournament after tying for second at last week's Evian Masters near the French Alps, and said her consistent form suggested she was very close to winning her first tournament. In her last four majors, she has three third-place finishes and a fifth-place result.

Wie dropped shots at the first three holes. She had a weak chip at the first, found a greenside bunker at the second and played well short of the green with her second shot at the third. She made her first birdie at the eighth but bogeyed the 11th. The consolation was a 5-iron on her second shot at 18 which left her close to the pin for her second birdie.