RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Suzann Pettersen went for a practically flawless desert drive in the opening round of the season’s first major.
The Norwegian star, trying to bounce back from a hip injury, shot a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 in the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over former champion Lorena Ochoa, who missed birdie putts on her final two holes.
If there are any lingering symptoms from a hip injury that required a cortisone shot, they weren’t showing. Pettersen hit 12 fairways and 13 greens in regulation at 6,702-yard Mission Hills.
“It’s quite demanding off the tees, and there’s just certain tee shots you’ve just got to take on,” she said. “And I think if you can place it off the tee, I think you’re in a very good position. You’ve just got to play what this course gives you. I’ve learned that over the years. And patience, obviously. I would take a bogey-free round any day around this place.”
Asked if the greens or rough looked more difficult this year, she said: “I can’t really answer you about the rough.”
She does know she doesn’t want to find out.
“You get in there, you’re looking at just hacking it out and hopefully get somewhere around the green or on the green if you’re lucky,” she said. “So it’s quite important to keep the ball in play and give yourself a lot of good looks at the pins.”
Majors champions Karrie Webb, Yani Tseng and Karen Stupples were in a group at 69.
Defending champion Brittany Lincicome curled in a birdie putt on 12 to drop to 4-under before bogeying Nos. 13 and 15 to finish with a 70. Michelle Wie had a 71.
The top-ranked Ochoa, the 2008 champion, had six birdies and two bogeys.
