Ochoa crafts nifty opening round at Kraft
Lorena Ochoa figured anything around par is good enough at a major. It took four straight birdies to get into the mix yesterday in the first round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Starting with a sand wedge to 2 feet on the 18th hole that she called her best of the day, Ochoa zoomed up the leaderboard with a string of birdies around the turn and settled for an opening round of 4-under-par 68, leaving her one shot behind leader Karen Stupples.
"It was important to get a couple of birdies early in the round and get some momentum," Ochoa said.
Ochoa is trying to become the first woman since Annika Sorenstam in 2005 to win consecutive majors, having won her first last summer at St. Andrews in the Women's British Open. And while a three-putt bogey from the fringe and over severe humps on the par-3 eighth kept her from a share of the lead, Ochoa showed why she is such an overwhelming favorite.
Playing with defending champion Morgan Pressel, she powered one tee shot after another down the middle of the fairway, well past trouble and usually 40 yards by Pressel. It finally paid off with the four straight birdies.
Ai Miyazato of Japan birdied her last hole for a 68 to join Ochoa. Natalie Gulbis was among those at 69, while UCLA freshman Maria Jose Uribe was the low amateur and in a group at 70 that included Liselotte Neumann.
Sorenstam tried to stay with the leaders, but she failed to take advantage of the par 5s and had to settle for a 71. It was her 15th consecutive round under par this year, but left her trailing Ochoa.
PGA - Defending champion Adam Scott and Johnson Wagner shot course-record 9-under 63s to take the first-round lead at the Houston Open in Humble, Texas.
The previous record at the Tournament Course at Redstone was Bubba Watson's 64.
Charley Hoffman was two behind the leaders after a 65 and Steve Stricker was three back. Phil Mickelson shot a 72 in the afternoon, when blustery wind produced higher scores.
European - Former Oklahoma State star Pablo Martin and Gregory Bourdy each shot 8-under 63 to break the course record and lead by one shot after the first round of the Portuguese Open in Cascais.
Michelle Wie has accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in the Jamie Farr Owens 
