Two-time champion Karrie Webb was tied third after a strong start to the first women’s golf major of the year.
Playing the Kraft Nabisco Championship for the 15th time, Australian Webb fired a three-under-par 69 on Thursday to be two shots behind leader Suzann Pettersen of Norway and one behind world No.1 Lorena Ochoa, the 2008 champion.
Webb enjoyed what was, perhaps, the highlight of her career when, four years ago, she holed out from the fairway with a wedge for eagle at the par-five 18th to claim an unlikely victory.
She birdied the 18th on Thursday – one of four birdies in her round.
Seven-time major champion Webb was in a seven-way tie with Becky Brewerton, Na on Min, Song-Hee Kim, Vicky Hurst, Yani Tseng and Karen Stupples.
Countrywomen Katherine Hull started steadily with a 72 to be tied 23rd while Lindsey Wright shot 73 and Wendy Doolan was well back after a 77.
Pettersen showed no signs of a recent painful hip injury that required a cortisone shot, hitting 12 fairway and 13 greens in regulation in her bogey-free 67.
“It’s quite demanding off the tees, and there’s just certain tee shots you’ve just got to take on,” Pettersen said. “I would take a bogey-free round any day around this place.”
Ochoa, who teed off three hours after Pettersen, had six birdies and two bogeys in her round.
“It was a good day for sure,” Ochoa said. “It helped me with a good start. I think that’s why I’m happy to have a good start because you never know what’ll happen tomorrow. You could show up here and all of a sudden the wind is 30 mph.”
Defending champion Brittany Lincicome opened with a 70, and Michelle Wie had a 71.
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