Sabbatini takes narrow advantage

Sorenstam shoots 71 despite late bogies

South Africa's Rory Sabbatini grabbed the lead with a six-under-par 64 at the Colonial PGA tournament but the main focus of attention was aimed at Annika Sorenstam in the first round on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Swede, who became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event for 58 years, had one birdie and two bogeys in a one-over-par 71.

Patrick Sheehan and Mark Calcavecchia were tied for second place on 65. Jesper Parnevik, Sorenstam's compatriot, shared fourth spot with Dan Forsman on 66.

Sorenstam played accurately, hitting 13 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens. But her form on the greens was woeful as the world's leading female golfer took 33 putts.

The longest putt she holed was a five and a half foot par effort on the second hole.

"I was a little tentative all day long," Sorenstam told reporters. "But some of these pins I thought were a little tricky.

"When I get a little nervous I get a little tentative and that's what happened. I kept telling myself 'hit it', and then I would hit it and suddenly I would have a long putt coming back."

The Stockholm-born Sorenstam is the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event since Babe Zaharias took part in the 1945 Los Angeles Open.

Sabbatini, in contrast to the Swede, had a magical day on the greens, taking only 23 putts.

The 27-year-old from Durban switched to a belly putter last week and said he was beginning to feel comfortable with the new club.

"I've messed around with it once before and it wasn't actually very successful," Sabbatini said.

"I've found a putter that feels good in the hands and I'm confident with. It's kind of like each day I'm out there with it I get more and more confidence."

Sabbatini has not won since the 2000 Air Canada Championship and has only one top-10 finish in 12 tournaments this year.

"It's been a long time coming for me to actually go out there and post a score," he said. "I kind of felt like I was a hamster in a wheel...I was running real fast but not going anywhere."

As for Sorenstam, Sabbatini said he had "nothing but support" for her.

"She's just a really nice, very considerate and genuine person," he said.

"I think that in regards to her abilities as a golfer, she's more than capable of competing with anybody and this is her chance to test that."

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