Han takes opening day honours with 66

Annika Sorenstam shot a 2-under 70 on Friday in her first competitive round of the year, leaving her four strokes behind leader Hee-Won Han in the MasterCard Classic, the first LPGA Tour event in Mexico since 1975.

"I thought it went well. I hit a lot of good shots. I hit 15 greens," said Sorenstam, the Swedish star who led the tour with eight victories last year. "I'm very happy with my start."

A morning breeze gave way to stronger gusts in the afternoon, complicating long approaches on the Bosque Real Country Club course.

"It was difficult to get some balls close because of the wind," Sorenstam said. "I thought the wind was tricky a few times."

Han, from South Korea, had seven birdies in a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over compatriot Young Jo. Han had five birdies on her opening nine holes, including three in a row on Nos. 14, 15 and 16. She had two bogeys after making the turn, but offset those with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3.

"My driving was pretty good and my putting was almost perfect today," said the 26-year-old Han, the Safeway Classic winner last year. "The greens are pretty fast, but I like fast greens."

Mexican star Lorena Ochoa opened with a 71, capped by a birdie on the final hole that sparked a massive cheer from the gallery.

"From the moment I arrived, there were so many fans supporting me," said Ochoa, from Guadalajara. "I'm grateful to all of them. I felt a lot of positive vibes that pushed me and gave me the desire to play well."

Ochoa called Friday "a super-special day" for her and her country, but said that the pressure was somewhat nerve-racking and was part of the reason she overshot the greens on Nos. 10 and 11.

"With all that happened today, all the emotion, the nerves, everybody's support, it was a good round," she said. "Tomorrow, if I hit the ball well and can stay among the leaders, it will be excellent."

The 23-year-old former University of Arizona player won twice last year to become the first Mexican-born champion in LPGA Tour history. She also set tour records for birdies (442), rounds under par (75) and rounds in the 60s (51).

Ochoa was paired with Sorenstam and hundreds of spectators followed them in the first LPGA Tour event in Mexico since the Bing Crosby International, played in 1974 and 1975 in Guadalajara.

"Lorena's one of the best golfers in the world and her country is here with her, supporting her," said Juan Rodriguez, a 39-year-old real-estate developer who took the morning off to follow Ochoa with his two children. "It's such an honor to see her. We feel so proud, all of us."

Moira Dunn was strokes back after a 68, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, Brandie Burton, Giulia Sergas and Gloria Park opened with 69s, and Cristie Kerr and Carin Koch were in a group at 70 along with Sorenstam.

Karrie Webb, coming off a victory Sunday in the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia, had a 71. Jennifer Rosales, the SBC Open winner last week in Hawaii, shot a 74.

On a hill overlooking Mexico City's smog-shrouded outskirts, Bosque Real is even higher than the rest of the capital, carved into a 7,400-foot high valley. But Han called the altitude "pretty normal," and Sorenstam laughed off questions about it.

"It's a good thing. It builds up your confidence. You feel like you hit it really far for a change," she said. "It's a matter of adjusting to it. It's not going to be a big deal."

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