Nordqvist flies high on Day 1

Anna Nordqvist stole the show in the first round of the US$1.5-million Honda LPGA Thailand by turning in a six-under-par 66 to grab a one-shot lead over pin-up girl Michelle Wie at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course yesterday.

The 2009 LPGA Championship winner started with three successive birdies and went on to sink two more on the eighth and 12th before committing back-to-back bogeys on the 13th and 14th. However, she recovered to fire an eagle on the 15th and shot her sixth birdie on the 17th to take charge at the par-72, 6,568 layout.

“Today was a pretty good day. The course was not really playing that easy, but I started with three birdies, so obviously got some momentum at the start. But after two bogeys, on the 15th I had 69 yards to the pin and the ball just went into the hole. It was really cool to have an eagle there and I had an easy birdie on the 17th,” said the world No 27, who had poor results in the second half of the 2013 season and almost decided to throw in the towel.

“It was pretty disappointing at the end of last year. I felt like I was playing bad, did not get the momentum. So I was very determined during the off season. I spent a lot of time in the gym. I changed the equipment to TaylorMade, got a new coach [Jorje Parada of Spain] and got some inspiration,” said the Swede, who managed just one top 10 finish (8th in the LPGA Keb Hana Bank Championship in October) from 15 tournaments after May. 

American Wie, the 2010 runner-up, fired six birdies against a lone bogey on the third for a 67 and lone second place. Three Americans, Lexi Thompson, Jennifer Johnson and Angela Stanford, tied for third place with 68. Stanford sizzled with an ace on the eighth hole. 

Suzann Pettersen, the 2007 winner and world No 2, shot four birdies and one bogey for a 69 along with South Korean Ryu So-yeon, American Sandra Gal and Swede Caroline Hedwall. 

Pornanong Phatlum hit three birdies against two bogeys for a 71, which placed her at joint 14th along with world No 1 and defending champion Park Inbee of South Korea; American world No 3 Stacy Lewis; Australian Karrie Webb, winner in Victoria last week; 2012 LPGA championship winner Feng Shanshan of China; and Julieta Granada of Paraguay.

“I expected to shoot a lower score as I hit the ball on to the fairways and did well with my approach shots. However, I had some problems with my putts. I thought too much deciding the line,” said Pornanong, the country’s No 1 player who won a Ladies European title in Taiwan this year.

“I need to take a good rest and get ready for tomorrow. I’m a bit sick after my trip from Australia. For tomorrow I will have to be more aggressive,” said Pornanong, who is nursing hopes of lifting a title at home.

Last year runner up Ariya, playing in her second comeback tournament after eight months on the sidelines, finished with a square-par 72 to be tied for 25th along with several big names such as Lydia Ko of New Zealand, American Paula Creamer and two-time champion Yani Tseng of Taiwan.