It’s first round of jeopardy for streak

When the week began, history seemed oh so close for Ai Miyazato, but it suddenly seems a long way off after the Japanese star opened with a two-over-par 74 in the first round of the Kia Classic on Thursday at La Costa Resort and Spa.

Miyazato won the first two tournaments on the LPGA Tour last month at Thailand and Singapore and is bidding to become the first player in LPGA history to win the first three tournaments of the season, but now she’ll have to overcome an eight-shot deficit after one round to do it.

Na On Min, a South Korean who opened with a bogey-free, six-under 66, has sole possession of the first-round lead.

“It was quite windy out there today,” the 29-year-old Miyazato said. “That affected the irons distance, so I haven’t many birdie chances out there.”

The 5-foot-2 Miyazato is not known for hitting long distances -- she averaged 254.3 yards in driving distance last year -- so playing in those conditions took its toll on a 6,670-yard course with seven par-four holes of 390 yards or longer.

“It was playing long today for me,” she said.

Only six players have started an LPGA season by winning two consecutive tournaments and Miyazato was the first since Marilynn Smith in 1966. Miyazato said she is trying not to focus on the run at history, but it seems that everywhere she turns, someone is reminding her.

“So many people gave me the information about that,” she said. “It’s a really good challenge.”

A challenge made even more daunting by her being tied for 59th with three rounds to play.

As for Min, this tournament is a comeback for her. The 21-year-old, who finished third in the 2007 LPGA Championship, hasn’t played on the tour since May of last year after injuring her wrist while practicing. She didn’t hit balls for four months in what became the longest break from golf for Min, who first played the game at age 12.

“I missed the competition,” she said. “I watched TV and talked to my friends, so I missed it. I couldn’t wait.”

Fellow Korean Na Yeon Choi is one shot back. Another pair of Koreans, In Bee Park and Seon Hwa Lee, are tied with Catriona Matthew at 68.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa is among a group of six players tied for eighth at 70, while Michelle Wie shot an even-par 72.

Miyazato, meanwhile, said she wouldn’t put a numeric goal in her head when she takes the course in the second round.

“That puts more pressure on myself, so [I’ll] just try to be natural,” she said.

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