When unsure of which club to pluck from her bag, Marianne Morris felt her brother's presence. When hovering nervously over a long putt, she remembered his philosophy on life.

Go for it. Enjoy yourself.

Playing for the first time since her brother was gunned down in a robbery, Morris shot a 5-under-par 67 today and was just two shots behind leader Maria Hjorth after the first round of the LPGA's Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.

Leslie Spalding and Kelly Robbins were tied at 66. But the most remarkable performance of the day belonged to Morris, clearly inspired by the memory of her brother.

Mike Morris, his sister's mentor, business partner and best friend, was shot to death Feb. 21 in an apparent robbery at their suburban Atlanta golf shop.

"Now I feel like I'm playing for both of us," said Marianne Morris, one of four players two shots off the lead. "Maybe I'll be more like him: play aggressive and enjoy being out there."

Morris, 34, considered quitting the tour after her brother's death, unsure if the game still had meaning. But two weeks ago, she picked up a sand wedge and started chipping.

She decided to resume her career at Eagles Landing Country Club south of Atlanta, where her brother took time away from their business a year ago to serve as her caddie.

"I didn't even think I'd break 80," said Morris, a native of Middletown, Ohio. "I haven't touched a club in so long."

Her round was highlighted by a couple of 25-foot birdie putts and another from 20 feet on greens quickened by unseasonably warm, dry weather. Each time, she wondered if her brother was guiding the ball into the cup.

"I'm not known for draining a lot of long putts," Morris said. "I honestly think there was something going on. Every day that goes by now, he'll be watching.''

Hjorth bogeyed her final hole, missing a 3-foot putt. That was the only slip for the 25-year-old Swede, who had the best round of her two-year career and finds herself leading an LPGA tournament for the first time.

"I will go out tomorrow and try to forget today," she said. "I'll be focused and not look too far into the future. That's been a problem for me."

Spalding, who missed the cut four times in her first nine tournaments and hasn't finished higher than 31st this year, also put together a career-low round despite a triple-bogey at No. 9. She compensated with 10 birdies.

"I love fast greens," Spalding said. "All you have to do is pick your line and hit it there.''

Morris's brother, five years her senior, encouraged her to play more aggressively. Last Christmas, he sent his sister a card that said, "1999 is going to be your year."

Today was certainly her day. Despite going through the most traumatic experience of her life, Morris felt a sense of calm each time she stood over a difficult putt.

"I felt like I was going to make them,'' Morris said. "I felt as good on the golf course as I ever have. I don't think I'll be as hard as myself as I used to. I'm fortunate to play golf for a living.''

Jane Crafter, who was part of the group at 67 that also included Rachel Hetherington and Lorie Kane, said Morris's game will benefit from a new perspective on life.

"The grieving process takes time, but it makes coming back and playing so much easier,'' said Crafter, recalling the deaths of her parents. "You can take the pressure of a 3-foot putt. It doesn't matter if you miss it. There are more important things in life.''

Everyone seemed to be cheering for Morris -- even those who are trying to beat her.

"She's a good player,'' Hetherington said, "and she deserves to play well with what she's been through."

DIVOTS: Nancy Lopez, who won the Chick-fil-A in 1997, becomes the official host next year. The tournament name will change to the "Chick-fil-A Charity Championship Hosted by Nancy Lopez." The honor didn't help her today as she shot 73. ... Defending champion Liselotte Neumann was nine shots off the lead after a 74. ... Karrie Webb, a winner three times and a top-10 finisher in all seven of her tournaments this year, was five shots off the lead.