Ochoa has had time away from the game recently

World number one Lorena Ochoa set the standard at the Evian Masters as her round of 67 gave her a one-shot lead at the end of the first round.

Ochos had not played competitively since the end of June, but she hit the ground running with seven birdies.

Candie Kung was one of three players one shot back at six under, while Annika Sorenstam was at one under.

English duo Trish Johnson and Laura Davies also finished at one under, but they have plenty of ground to make up.

On a sweltering day in Evian-les-Bains, Ochoa found form on the back nine with six birdies finding their way onto her impressive scorecard.

"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 title at Sunningdale next week.

I wish I'd scored a little better, but there are still a lot of holes to go Sweden's Annika Sorenstam

"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."

Sorenstam, who won the tournament in 2000 and 2002, said she had plenty of time to mount a genuine challenge for the tournament.

"I wish I'd scored a little better, but there are still a lot of holes to go," she said.

"But I know this course very well and so I hope I can capitalise on it over the next three days."

England's Karen Stupples pulled out of the tournament with an illness.