Golf-Sizzling putter helps Gal into early tie for Nabisco lead (Reuters)

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

RANCHO MIRAGE, California, March 31 (Reuters) – Germany’s
Sandra Gal, wielding a red-hot putter, charged into a share of
the early lead in the opening round of the Kraft Nabisco
Championship on Thursday.

Just four days after winning her first LPGA title at the
Kia Classic, Gal totalled only 20 putts as she fired a sizzling
five-under-par 67 on a scorching spring day at Mission Hills
Country Club.

The 25-year-old German chipped in for birdie at the
par-four fourth before ending her round level with Japan’s Mika
Miyazato, who rattled up five birdies in a flawless display.

Chie Arimura, also of Japan, eagled the par-five second en
route to a 68 in the opening women’s major of the year while
twice champion Karrie Webb of Australia and American Reilley
Rankin carded matching 69s.

“I’m happy with my start,” a beaming Gal told reporters
after mixing seven birdies with two bogeys. “At the beginning,
I struggled a little bit with my irons and just made a few
up-and-downs.

“Then I just happened to roll a few putts in and got more
comfortable as the round went on.”

Gal, who came from one shot behind to beat South Korean
world number two Shin Ji-yai by a stroke at last week’s Kia
Classic, holed out from 15 yards with a 58-degree lob wedge at
the fourth.

“There was a lot of break in it so I had to stop it quickly
and trickle it left-to-right,” she said. “It was just a small
fluff shot. It definitely helps you to do that early in a
round.”

THANKFUL GAL

Gal was thankful for an early teeoff time on a calm day in
the California desert where the temperatures peaked at 96
degrees (35.55 degrees Celsius) and the course began to play
faster and firmer.

“It was pretty hot out there but we had an early start
which was nice,” the six-foot (1.83 metres) German said. “The
greens, as the day went on, got firmer and firmer.

“I had quite a few shots that actually went over the
greens. So that’s something to consider for tomorrow for sure,”
added Gal, who has an afternoon teeoff for Friday’s second
round.

Taiwan’s world number one Yani Tseng launched her title
defence at Mission Hills with a 70 and was envious of the
superb putting display by her playing partner Gal.

“She seemed really confident today and she was making lots
of putts,” Tseng said. “I really need to putt like her. I
thought I could see the line, but my speed was a little off.

“I shot two under, which is not bad, but it was tough out
there. It was so hot and there was no wind. I had an umbrella
out there.”

Korean Shin, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and Americans Paula
Creamer and Michelle Wie were among the day’s late starters.
(Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)