(CNN) -- World number one Lorena Ochoa grabbed the limelight with a flawless seven-birdie 65 in the first round of the Evian Masters in France.
World number one Ochoa looks the player to beat after her sparkling opening round in the Evian Masters.
The Mexican -- a six-time winner this season -- has not played a tournament since the end of June, but her hunger was clear as she reduced the back nine to 30 shots and finished one ahead of South Korea's Sun-Ju Ahn, Brazil's Angela Park and Taiwan's Candie Kung.
France's Gwladys Nocera, the No.1 player in Europe this year, played alongside Ochoa, but was nine shots behind her partner on 74.
On a day of sweltering heat, Ochoa fired six birdies on the inward half to declare herself happy with the day's proceedings.
"I rolled in putts on the 10th and 11th and it got my confidence going," said the 26-year-old, who defends her Women's British Open at Sunningdale next week.
"I'm glad to be at the top and I'm really happy with my position. But I still have to be patient, there are another three rounds to go. It's good to be back after the break. I needed to recharge the batteries and now I want to win my first Evian Masters."
Former world number one Annika Sorenstam, a course specialist and two-time winner, carded a one-under-par round of 71.
Sorenstam, the champion in 2000 and 2002, was relieved that it was only Thursday. "I wish I'd scored a little better, but there are still a lot of holes to go," said the 37-year-old, who has already announced she will retire at the end of the year.
"But I know this course very well and so I hope I can capitalize on it over the next three days."
The Swede managed four birdies, but three bogeys -- including three-putts at the sixth and 15th -- blighted her card.
Nocera, a two-time winner this year, was ahead of Ochoa after birdies at the fifth and seventh, but a poor drive resulted in a seven at the long 15th and another double-bogey at the par four 16th contributed to a poor back nine of 40.
Defending champion Natalie Gulbis was the third player in Ochoa's group and the American opened with a solid round of 70.
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