Sensational putting has catapulted South Korean Amy Yang to the lead in the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship, but Australia's Lindsey Wright is well in contention after the opening round.
Yang took advantage of ideal scoring conditions at the Mission Hills Country Club in California, firing a 6-under-par 66 to start the year's first women's major.
Wright, who just six months ago considered quitting the game because of depression, was alone in second place after carding a 67, with Taiwan's Yani Tseng a further stroke back.
American world number eight Paula Creamer was among a group of seven players who opened with matching 69s to lie in joint fourth position.
Yang, who at 16 became the youngest champion on the Ladies European Tour with victory at the 2006 Australian Ladies Masters, charged to the top of the leaderboard with a run of six birdies in nine holes from the par-three fifth.
"My whole game worked great," the 22-year-old told reporters after totalling only 23 putts on the sun-baked greens.
"I had a great feeling for the green speed and my rhythm felt good."
However, Yang will need to keep a close eye on tournament favourite and World number one Tseng, who has triumphed three times this season in five LPGA Tour starts and won four of the last eight majors.
Wright took a four-month break from the game late last year after feeling "smothered" by golf and was delighted with her start at Mission Hills, covering her last nine holes in 5-under 31.
"It was one of those days when everything just felt good. I didn't feel intense. It was just going smoothly,'' the Australian said.
Wright, who tied for fourth at this tournament in 2009, said she felt re-energised after her decision to spend time away from the game.
"I was being smothered by it, by the lifestyle and golf, and I wanted to do something else so I took four months off," she said.
"It was really great. I took the time off and experienced other things, and I think that's made a massive impact for me coming into the year."
Wright last month won the New Zealand Women's Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, with a free-wheeling approach to the game which she has brought to Mission Hills.
Australia's former world number one Karrie Webb and fourth-ranked American Cristie Kerr carded 71s while big-hitting Brittany Lincicome of the United States, the 2009 champion, battled to a 76.
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted March 30, 2012 18:06:48