Webb’s Play So Unreal She’s in ‘Twilight Zone’

The way she is playing, it’s time to ask what exactly is Karrie Webb “in” these days?

Is she in the driver’s seat? In the lead . . . again? Indestructible? In a zone?

Yes, that’s it, Webb agrees, must be that zone thing.

“I think I’d have to say I’m in some sort of zone,” Webb said Thursday after the first round of the Nabisco Championship, which she leads by one shot and several large helpings of confidence.

What sort of zone Webb finds herself in isn’t known, but whatever it is, it’s the one that she used to start the LPGA’s first major of the year with a five-under 67 at surprisingly tough Mission Hills.

They lengthened the layout here alongside Dinah Shore Drive by about 60 yards and let the rough grow slightly higher than normal, which must be the only reasons the scores weren’t much better in near-perfect conditions of warm sunshine and calm winds.

Actually, Dottie Pepper said the breeze was a little tricky, blowing from the east instead of the west, which is what it did Wednesday.

What else did the wind do?

“The wind was up and it was down,” Pepper said.

Whatever the wind was doing, only 11 players shot under par on opening day, with Webb leading the way in her search for a second major title.

Webb missed two greens and did not make a bogey, enjoying a success factor she didn’t believe possible after warming up--or after her practice round Wednesday, for that matter.

She came to the course early Thursday morning for some extra work but still didn’t feel well, right up to the moment she hit her first shot.

“I never looked back from there,” Webb said.

But if she did, Webb would see that she is being chased by some players who may not be in the same zone, but who have been in a few of their own before.

For example, there is Pepper, the defending champion. She rescued her round with birdies on three of her last four holes to get within one shot of Webb with a four-under 68.

Pepper made those three birdies on putts of 15 feet, 12 feet and 18 feet, then credited a simple philosophy that worked.

“You know you’ve got to grind your way in,” she said.

In that case, there was a lot of grinding going on. Rachel Hetherington, who won consecutive LPGA tournaments last spring, turned in a 69 and is only two shots behind Webb, her fellow Australian.

Last year’s Hall of Fame entry, Beth Daniel, hasn’t finished in the top 10 at the Nabisco since 1992, but her 70 means she begins the second round tied for fourth with Barb Whitehead.

Daniel said she is more relaxed than she has been.

“I don’t feel like I really have to prove anything out here anymore, and I’m certainly not as intense as I once was,” said Daniel, who may be relaxed, just not sure what her motivation is anymore at 43.

“That’s something I’m searching for because I still want to play golf and I still feel like I’m capable of winning, but I’m really, really having a hard time drawing up that fire at times.”

Of course, fire is something that Webb seems capable of summoning with a snap of her fingers.

At this point, there doesn’t seem to be very much that’s going wrong, even if there probably should be. For instance, Webb hit a tree on her second shot at No. 12, but saved par when she knocked a sand wedge to 12 feet and made the putt. Then at No. 15, Webb missed the fairway and found her ball under a tree. She then hit into the left greenside bunker, but came out to four feet and made the putt to save par again.

“Confidence is a big factor right now,” Webb said.

Of course, your confidence level can’t help but rise when you win four times (three of them official) and finish second in the only other tournament you’ve played. That is Webb’s story right now and it is a tale that Pepper and others have followed closely.

“It makes you have to work that much harder,” said Pepper. “The guys are all saying the same things about Tiger [Woods].”

But Pepper said she is far from intimidated by Webb, at least so far.

“She’s human too,” Pepper said.

Maybe everyone else will figure out how to catch up and join Webb in that special place, that zone, or whatever it is. But at least for now, we’re finding out that there is no zone defense.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

In Front

Leaders through Thursday’s play in the Nabisco Championship (at Mission Hills Country Club--Par 72):

Karrie Webb 34-33--67 -5

Dottie Pepper 34-34--68 -4

Rachel Hetherington 35-34--69 -3

Barb Whitehead 36-34--70 -2

Beth Daniel 33-37--70 -2

Val Skinner 34-37--71 -1

Gail Graham 37-34--71 -1

Laura Davies 34-37--71 -1

Wendy Ward 34-37--71 -1

Alison Nicholas 36-35--71 -1

Lorie Kane 35-36--71 -1

* COMPLETE SCORES, D8