Webb slumps with 77
MEXICO’S Lorena Ochoa and American Paula Creamer share the second-round lead in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first women’s major of the year, at Rancho Mirage, California.
Ochoa fied a 71 and Creamer 67 for a two-round total of 140 today (AEST), a shot ahead of Korea’s Shi Hyn Ahn and and Norway’s Suzann Petersen.
Defending champion Karrie Webb is seven shots off the pace after a disappointing 77 today. Lindsey Wright (74-69) leads the Aussie challenge on 143. While two-time winner Webb admits she has a lot of work to do to claw back into contention, she still has her eye on the prize.
Webb was joint second after an opening 70, but dropped five shots in six holes from the turn to fall seven behind laying partner Ochoa and Creamer. Albury’s Wright is in joint sixth place at one-under.
The 27-year-old added a 69 to her opening 74 to raise hopes of her best even result in a major, her best to date joint 16th in the LPGA Championship two years ago.
Webb admitted she was bitterly disappointed at her faltering effort. She had six bogeys in all, mainly due to missing greens and failing to find any decent form with the putter.
“It’s a big ask for the weekend,” she said, before adding a timely reminder.
“But I have come back from big deficits before.”
In fact, she was seven behind Ochoa going into the last round here last year and won a play-off.
But, 12 months on, and Ochoa is far more experienced. She learned from her close call in the major and went on to win six times on the LPGA Tour and top the money list last year.
Last week she collected her 10th career title in Arizona and a win on Monday (AEST) will put her to No.1 ahead of Annika Sorenstam in the world rankings.
“I’m very happy with my position,” said Ochoa, 25, who had a mixed bag of five birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey.
“But I’m not thinking about the world No.1 spot. I want to get there, but Im not in a hurry. Hopefully, it will be this week.”
Webb, the world No.1 before Sorenstam, is one who knows what it takes to win majors, but she knows she will have to improve her form to make it No.8 here.
“I drove the ball well but didn’t putt great and I need to be much more solid over the weekend, she said.
Out in level-par, she dropped a shot at the first (her 10th), birdied the 11th but then saw her round unravel with bogeys at the next four holes.
She did have one explanation for the run.
“We were put on the clock on the 3rd hole and I think it knocked me out of my rhythm,” she said.
“But it was just a pretty poor round.”
Wendy Doolan was the other Australian to make the cut, finishing at nine-over-par.
AAP