Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow have their work cut out just to make the cut after posting disappointing first rounds in the opening women's Major of the season in Texas.

With her momentum disrupted mid-round by a 54-minute weather delay for a thunderstorm, Maguire bogeyed her last two holes and signed for a four-over 76, while Meadow shot 77 at The Chevron Championship in Texas.

Taiwan's Peiyun Chien (32) snatched the lead in Major for the first time, carding a five-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over a group of six players.

Maguire is tied for 98th, three strokes outside the projected one-over cut mark with Meadow a shot further back in a tie for 114th.

The Co Cavan golfer was one of the afternoon starters, but after following a bogey at the second with a birdie two at the seventh, play was suspended due to dangerous weather and she wasn't the same player afterwards.

She bogeyed the 10th and 12th at the 6,706-yard The Club at Carlton Woods, then bogeyed the last two holes.

She hit every fairway but found just nine greens in regulation and likely needs to break par today to make the weekend after her 76.

Maguire’s management group denied she was one of the players who have spoken to Greg Norman about a possible LIV ladies series.

"I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players, LET Tour players," Norman said ahead of this week's LIV Golf event in Adelaide. "They love what our product is showcasing. They ask all the time, how can we get involved, we'd love to see a LIV ladies series."

Meadow had a rollercoaster day, making just seven pars in her 77.

While she birdied the second, sixth, eighth and 18th, she also made six bogeys and a triple bogey eight at the fourth.

It was a far more enjoyable day for the leader. 

"I saw the pin sheet last night, and I can't sleep. It feels so hard," said Chien, who carded six birdies and one bogey on Thursday. "We're doing very well today, just focused on what I want, what we want, and which way we can miss. I think we did very well today."

Chien sits one stroke clear of six competitors in a tie for second, led by world number two Nelly Korda.

"I took advantage of the par-fives today," Korda said. "I think I birdied them all, so that was important, as I'm a bit of a longer hitter.

Americans Lilia Vu and Marina Alex, Korea's Chella Choi, Japan's Ayaka Furue and Australian rookie Steph Kyriacou round out the six-strong chasing pack.

Kyriacou joined the pack on four-under courtesy of a 97-yard hole-out for an eagle three at the last.