Mother's day: Dowd, 13, gives ill mom a lift

Dakoda Dowd had two three-putts, made three bogeys, finished nine shots off the lead and the 13-year-old doesn't expect to make the cut.

And in her mother's eyes, the day was perfect.

''Fantabulous," Kelly Jo Dowd said. ''I have to make up my own vocabulary to describe it."

With one swing at 9:32 a.m. yesterday, and the 73 shots that followed over five hours, Dakoda made Kelly Jo's dream come true. The teen made her LPGA debut at the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open in Reunion, Fla., which extended the terminally ill mother a chance to see her daughter compete against the game's best.

Dakoda, a winner of more than 100 tournaments and ranked among the nation's best 13-year-old players, finished with a 2-over 74, nine shots behind Cristie Kerr, but just two behind world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam.

Kelly Jo Dowd is fighting cancer for the second time in four years. She was given a clean bill of health after doctors believed she beat breast cancer, but she learned last year that she has terminal bone and liver cancer.

When Ginn officials learned of Kelly Jo's wish to see her daughter play on the LPGA Tour, they offered a sponsor's exemption.

PGA -- Graeme McDowell finished a flawless round by one-hopping a wedge from 116 yards for eagle, giving him a 64 for a one-shot lead over Stuart Appleby in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson only made birdie on one of the par 5s but still shot 68.

European -- England's Graeme Storm and Jose-Felipe Lima of Portugal shot 7-under 65s to share the first-round lead at the Spanish Open in San Roque.