J-Ro tests new swing in LPGA major

With a new swing and a new coach, Jennifer Rosales hopes to come out with something new to offer as she competes in the first major tournament in the LPGA — the Kraft Nabisco Championship — firing off Thursday (Friday in Manila) at the Mission Hills Country Club Dinah Shore course in Rancho Mirage, California.

Actually, it will be Rosales’ first tournament in the season after she withdrew from the SBS Open in Hawaii, which she ruled last year, due to a finger injury in a freak accident early in the year.

The 27-year-old Filipino then opted to come back home, spent the next two months doing light training under swing guru Bong Lopez before deciding to drop his long-time mentor in favor of Gerard Cantada.

She cited Lopez’s hectic schedule as reason for severing her ties with the national team coach, adding that she had wanted to give her swing a more consistent touch and make it more compact.

Donna Early, Rosales’ trusted caddie, liked what she saw when the former five-time RP Ladies Open champion arrived in Rancho Mirage, California last week and practiced Sunday and Monday.  She spent all day Tuesday practicing on the putting green and the driving range.  Jenny also participated in Wednesday’s ProAM. 

"Jenny appears to be in top form, especially with her iron play.  Her new swing yields a slight draw instead of the left to right fade she used to have," said Early, adding that Rosales’ family is giving her the much-needed morale support, including brother Gerald and Cantada.

Rosales’ putting, the bane of her game in past LPGA campaigns, seems to be working out a little better. With the hard, fast greens of Dinah Shore, her iron approaches and putting will be very important, according to Early. 

Rosales is set to tee off at 9:09 at the frontside with Korean Jee Young Lee.

Meanwhile, defending champion Annika Sorenstam tries to match friendly rival Tiger Woods with a 10th career major title in the 72-hole championship.

The Swedish superstar seeks her fourth victory in the event, the first major tournament of the season, and a 68th career title, which would put her 20 shy of matching Kathy Whitworth’s LPGA record career title total.

"I’m as ready as I can be," Sorenstam said. "I’m swinging really well, putting well. I’m looking forward to this week. I’m ready. It’s now or never. We’ll see how it goes. I feel good about it. We’ll see what happens." - (AFP), With report from Dante Navarro