Havre de Grace, Md. – It wasn’t long ago that Laura Diaz was regarded as perhaps the best American challenger to Annika Sorenstam.
In the 2002 Solheim Cup, the 30-year-old Diaz posted a 3-1 record in the biennial team competition against Europe and was on the U.S. squad the following year.
However, after ankle surgery and a lengthy recovery, Diaz’s name began slipping off the radar screen. That might be changing. A 5-under-par 67 on Thursday got the veteran a share of the first-round lead at the LPGA Championship.
“I think it’s a bigger mental block than a physical limitation,” Diaz said. “It’s been hard to kind of regroup and get going again.”
Currently in sixth place in the points standings for this year’s U.S. team, Diaz is at least proving she’s ready for the biggest challenges. She finished third at the season’s first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Batter up
Natalie Gulbis is scheduled to throw out the first pitch at the Rockies’ June 24 game against Kansas City.
“I think I get to take batting practice, too. That will be a disaster,” Gulbis said.
“I’ve done it before,” she said. “The last time, there was a guy in front of me who threw it in the dirt. The catcher moved up and I threw it over his head.”
Miller time
Another contestant from the Golf Channel’s reality show, “The Big Break,” is playing this week.
The show’s third-place finisher, Cindy Miller, received an exemption and shot an opening-round 84.
“I made a birdie on the first hole and a par on the second, and then it was just yucky,” said the 48-year-old Miller, who played on the LPGA Tour 25 years ago. “Oh, well, no one said I was going to win here.”
Footnotes
There was a 52-minute rain delay during the afternoon, a delay that might have saved Michelle Wie’s round. The 15-year-old amateur was at even-par at the time, but said, “If it wasn’t for the siren, I might have quit.” The problem? “I feel really stupid saying this, but I ate too much and had a case of indigestion,” said Wie, who finished at 3-under 69. … Karrie Webb (74), the winner of 30 events and six majors, officially qualified for the World Golf Hall of Fame when she completed her round Thursday. … Denver native Jill McGill shot a 73.
