In-form Rosales opens bid for 1st LPGA major

A change in weather could change Jennifer Rosales’ form for the better as the ace Filipina shotmaker begins her title hunt for LPGA’s first major — the Kraft Nabisco Championship — unfolding at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Rosales, an endorser for Smart Communications, is coming off a joint 12th finish in last week’s Safeway International in Arizona, where she had to fight not only the cream of the women’s crop but also the biting cold that kept her from dishing out the form expected of her.

"Mainit na dito sa Palm Springs kaya medyo okay na si Jenny," Rosales’ swing coach Bong Lopez told The STAR. "Kasi sobra ang lamig last week sa Arizona that’s why she had colds and fever."

More than the weather, however, Lopez said her ward’s title hopes would hinge on her putter.

"Putting again will be the key for us. But if we make those putts early in round 1, delikado sila sa amin," said Lopez. "So my goal is to focus her again on reading the putts correctly and concentrating on the speed of putts."

Other than that, it’s go for J-Ro.

"She’s been hitting the ball very well. Grabe ang ball-striking niya that’s why I’m very confident that she will do better in Nabisco," said Lopez.

The $1.8 million championship serves as the first of four majors on the LPGA Tour calendar with the next set June 9-12 for the McDonald’s Championship in Maryland, then the US Women’s Open on June 23-26 in Colorado and the Weetabix British Open on July 28-31 in England.

Rosales, also backed by The American Eye Center, finished tied for 58th last year in Nabisco won by Grace Park over Aree Song. But with a victory in the SBS Open in Hawaii last month and a top 15 finish last week, things could look up indeed for the 26-year-old five-time RP Ladies Open champion.

Annika Sorenstam remains the odds-on favorite to win the event owing to her victory in last week’s Safeway International with the likes of Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Karrie Webb, Park and Rosales likely to spoil the Swede ace’s bid.

And Lopez has left no stone unturned for Rosales’ buildup for the big event.

"Since it’s a major, Jenny has put up a notch in her practice time. She hit balls and practiced the short game a little longer than usual," said Lopez. — Dante Navarro