Yani Tseng, the top-ranked player in women's golf, shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Paula Creamer after the first round of the LPGA Championship.
The 22-year-old Taiwanese, already the youngest player to win three majors, made five birdies on the front nine and three more on the back to go with a pair of bogeys as she began her quest for another major title.
''I tried to put it on the fairways as much as I could,'' said Tseng, who finished second to Stacy Lewis at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March, the first major of the year. ''When you put it on the fairways, you have more chance to make birdies. The second shot I hit it very good.''
Among her eight birdie putts at Locust Hill Country Club, was an 8-footer at No. 15. And although Tseng hit only six of 14 fairways, her strength allowed her to hit solid shots out of the thick rough and she was able to reach 15 of 18 greens in regulation.
She was nearly flawless on the short holes, birdieing all four par 3s on a course that had been softened by overnight rain.
Tseng faltered twice, bogeying the par-4 13th hole after hitting a ''terrible drive'' and missing a 12-foot putt for par, then pulling her drive at No. 16, another par 4, and missing an 8-foot par putt.
''It's hard to put it on (the) fairway. The course is really narrow,'' Tseng said.
Leading Creamer by one shot heading to the 18th tee, Tseng recovered from a bad tee shot that landed in the thick right rough. She hit a 9-iron onto the ridge above the hole, then watched as it rolled down within 4 feet of the pin and sank the birdie putt.
''I'm enjoying what's happening right now,'' said Tseng, who won the State Farm Classic two weeks ago for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season. ''The last few weeks just gave me lots of confidence for my putting and my driving, too. So that helps a lot for a major golf course. (It) make me very comfortable.''
Angela Stanford, Meena Lee, Diana D'Alessio and Stacy Prammanasudh were 4 under, and Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis, Ryann O'Toole, Amy Hung, Minea Blomqvist, Jennifer Johnson and Hee Young Park were 3 under.
Defending champion Cristie Kerr, who was ailing with a cold, shot an even-par 72.
Creamer withdrew from this tournament two years ago - before it became a major - with an injury to her left thumb, and last year finished tied for 42nd, never going lower than her first-round 71.
''Normally, I shoot myself in the foot after the first day with putting pressure on myself and wanting to do so well,'' said Creamer. ''It's nice to be on the other side going into tomorrow. I just need to keep it going and try to make as many birdies as I can.''
Creamer missed a chance to tie - or even take the lead - when she misread a 45-foot eagle putt at the par-5 17th hole and ended up three-putting for par. She then got a birdie at 18, hitting a 7-iron from 150 yards within 2 feet of the pin.
''I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of good putts,'' Creamer said. ''I kind of was kicking myself after 17. I had a good birdie chance there, just two putts. But I finished strong, and I feel good about where I'm sitting.''
