Neumann Takes the Early Lead

Membership, apparently, does have its privileges.

Swede Liselotte Neumann made good use of her honorary membership at Mission Hills Country Club in January, hitting the course almost every weekend in anticipation of the LPGA’s first major of the year.

It got cold, and windy, of course, being it was January. One practice round was shortened, mercifully, to nine holes because conditions were so chilly.

Still, who knew the turtleneck-and-sweater weather would be ideal preparation come March?

Neumann dealt with the elements better than anyone else in the opening round of the $1.5-million Kraft Nabisco Championship here on Thursday, shooting a three-under-par 69.

One shot back was the trio of defending champion Annika Sorenstam, Gloria Park and Amy Fruhwirth. Only eight players were under par on a tough, blustery day. Fifteen-year-old Thai amateur Aree Song Wongluekiet, was one under at 71.

Sorenstam, winner of eight titles last year, finished late in the day, about 15 minutes before it started raining.

She seemed more upset about spotting lightning on No. 18 than she was by hitting a four-wood off the tee into water, finally bogeying the last hole.

“At the end, I mean we’ve been out there for five hours, and the wind was howling and I saw some lightning,” Sorenstam said. “So I’m happy to be in and be under par.”

The press and interview tent were buffeted by the heavy winds as she recounted the difficult day of weather and lightning.

“We were standing waiting to hit our third shot, and I saw several little streaks in the background,” she said. “And we were hoping that we would be able to finish. But it seems like they are still playing; so it must be moving some other direction.

“But it really felt close and I heard some thunder too.”

Neumann’s caddie teased her about adapting to the challenging conditions. Her best finish at this event was a tie for 10th in 1996.

“I usually play pretty good in the wind,” said Neumann, who was bogey-free.

“I don’t have a really long swing. Just kind of keep it compact and am able to hit a lot of really low shots. So actually my caddie asked me today, ‘Are you sure you don’t have a little British blood in you?’”

Hours earlier, and much sunnier, it was like another tournament, though still windy.

Two of the early leaders, Park and Fruhwirth, have vastly different experiences with this course.

For Park, who was born in Seoul but lives in Sydney, Australia, this was only her third full round at Mission Hills, including Tuesday’s pro-am.

Fruhwirth grew up in Orange County in Cypress and has played this event seven times.

In 1992, she was low amateur, and her best finish, a tie for third, was in 1997. More recently, she missed the cut three years ago, tied for 57th in 2000 and tied for 42nd last year.

She is distinctive for a couple of reasons, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat on the course to protect her skin from the sun.

“My skin is very sensitive, fair skin, and I’ve had basal cells removed from my left eyebrow, so I’m very conscious of the sun and trying to do everything I can to protect it.” Fruhwirth said.

Her gallery of relatives and friends numbered nine and is going to expand in the next round. She expects about a dozen more supporters to be on hand today.

“It’s going to grow. It’s going to get loud,” she said. “My sisters are here, aunts, uncles, cousins. You’ll be able to hear them. We are a pretty loud family.”

The big family following makes sense because her father is one of 10 children, and Fruhwirth estimates she has about 60 cousins.

So, does she know all their names?

“I’m embarrassed to say,” she said

The Fruhwirth family could make it interesting if she were to win on Sunday. What has become a traditional victory plunge into the lake could turn into a tidal wave at Mission Hills. And she will remove the hat too.

“Absolutely. I don’t care,” she said. “If I’m the winner, my whole family and I are going to come out and jump in the lake. We are going to empty that water out.”