Michelle Wie (75) faces uphill climb

ByABC News
July 10, 2014, 9:54 AM

— -- SOUTHPORT, England -- U.S. Open champion  Michelle Wie got off to a rocky start as she struggled to keep the ball in play, shooting a 3-over 75 to fall seven strokes behind the early leaders at the Women's British Open on Thursday.

Wie, who has two victories among eight top 10s in her last nine tournaments, had five bogeys and two birdies, including on No. 18, in what might be the easiest conditions all week at Royal Birkdale.

Ayako Uehara of Japan got her one mistake out of the way early -- bogeying the first hole -- and opened with a 4-under 68 to grab the early lead.

Uehara ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch and then was flawless on the back nine as the wind started to pick up. She made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th hole and finished with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis played in the same group as Uehara and shot 71.  Morgan Pressel also was among the early leaders, finding success on the greens for a 2-under 70.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.