Diaz & Matthew share opening honours

Laura Diaz might think about wearing a brace on her ankle every time she plays golf.

With the brace helping get her through a pain-free round, Diaz shot a 6-under 66 Thursday to tie Catriona Matthew for the lead after one round of the Takefuji Classic.

Diaz missed the cut in Los Angeles two weeks ago after reinjuring her left ankle in a workout, but she was in no pain and in fine spirits after taking a share of the lead for the first time this year.

"I feel like I'm carrying around 10 extra pounds on my ankle," Diaz said. "But I'll play until I can't walk, that's my theory."

Diaz sank a long putt for eagle on the ninth hole and tapped in one for a closing birdie to match her lowest round of the year.

Four others were a shot back at 5 under, while defending champion Annika Sorenstam had an even-par 72 and was six shots behind.

The tournament is only 54 holes, so Sorenstam has some work to do to play in the final group in the last round, as she's done in her first three tournaments this year.

"It's important to get off to a good start in a three-day tournament," Sorenstam said. "I have to keep it low the next few days."

Diaz, who won her first two tournaments last year, three-putted the 17th hole for her only bogey before coming back to hit a wedge to 18 inches on the closing hole for a final birdie.

Diaz wore the brace to help with tendinitis in the ankle, which has been troubling her for more than a year. She reinjured it while working out in Los Angeles, where she played in pain and shot 77-78 to miss the cut.

Diaz made five birdies, but it was the eagle on the ninth hole that was the highlight of her round. She hit the green in two but had about 45 feet left.

"It was a little squiggly, hit a few bumps and went in," she said. "It was kind of exciting."

All the way around the course, she gave her ball instructions after hitting it, a habit she picked up while playing golf with her father growing up.

"It's a way to release some energy out there," Diaz said. "It just feels good."

Diaz has been heralded by some as the next bright American star on the LPGA Tour after winning twice last year and having 10 top 10 finishes in 25 tournaments. She started slowly this year, though, missing two cuts. Her best finish was a tie for fifth at the Kraft Nabisco.

"It feels good to break par and get some putts to roll in," she said. "I'm ready to go out and make some more putts."

Matthew eagled her first hole and birdied her last two at the Las Vegas Country Club to tie Diaz, on a day when gusty winds played havoc with some shots.

"I really didn't make any bad swings off the tee, which really helped," Matthew said.

That wasn't the case for Sorenstam, who hit her opening tee shot into the trees and had some uncharacteristic scrambling to do for pars much of the day.

Sorenstam played early, before the winds got strongest, but she wasn't able to take advantage of her tee time.

"I had to scramble a lot, hit it from under trees and make putts," Sorenstam said.

Sorenstam, who won two weeks ago in Los Angeles, made a closing two-putt birdie on the ninth hole to salvage par for her round. But in a 54-hole tournament, she faces an uphill challenge to catch the leaders.

Divots: The tournament is in its first year in Las Vegas. Last year it was held in Hawaii. ... Emily Klein, who shot 80 in the opening round of her last two tournaments, was one of four in the group at 65. ... Klein, one of the shortest hitters on tour, carries six woods in her bag. ... The tournament ends on Saturday so it can be broadcast to Japan on Sunday.

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