RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Lexi Thompson found a putting touch to match her power game Friday in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

The 19-year-old Thompson, already a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour, shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 at Mission Hills for a share of the lead with Se Ri Pak.

“This is my favorite tournament of the year,” Thompson said. “It’s so beautiful, like really nice weather, and the fans are amazing.”

Thompson had only 25 putts after taking 35 in a first-round 73.

“I just had a little bit of speed issues yesterday,” Thompson said. “I didn’t really commit to my lines and I came up short a lot. I just went out today and picked my line and sped up my tempo a little bit and went up to it and said, `I’m going to knock it in.'”

Pak birdied the final hole for a 70 to match Thompson at 7-under 137 in the first major championship of the year. The 36-year-old South Korean player won the last of her five major titles in 2006 and has 25 LPGA Tour victories.

“Everything has just been really solid,” Pak said. “I kept it fairways, greens, always the goal every hole. I had a lot of opportunities, but putting is not as good as yesterday. Still, just really smooth, solid round. I’m really happy about the way I finished.”

Michelle Wie was a stroke back after a 71.

“I’m really excited,” Wie said. “It’s fun being near the top of the leaderboard. But try not to look forward too much. It’s a long way `til Sunday.”

Thompson birdied eight of the last 13 holes after opening with five pars.

“I was just trying to stay in the moment and focus on each shot, not really think about what I was shooting,” Thompson said. “I had the same confidence over every shot, just committing to my line and just being confident.”

She made a 20-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 17th – her eighth hole – and two-putted for birdie after reaching the par-5 18th in two.

Thompson holed a breaking 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 first, made a 4-footer on the par-4 third and ran in a 20-foot putt on the par-4 fourth after slashing out from under a tree in the left rough. She added an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 seventh and closed with a 10-footer on the par-5 ninth after hitting into the greenside bunker in two.

“I’m really comfortable with the golf course,” Thompson said. “I get to hit a lot of drivers, so I just aim up the right side and hit my little draw.”

Wie opened with a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 10th, and dropped a stroke on the par 13th after driving behind a tree in the right rough. She had a three-putt par on 18 – missing a 3-footer – after reaching the water-guarded green in two.

“It felt good to start off with a birdie,” Wie said. “After that, really just couldn’t get anything going. … But it felt good. Par is a good score out here.”

On the par-5 second, she made a 25-foot birdie putt after hitting a snap hook off the tee. Instead of going out of bounds, the ball hit a tree and ricocheted into the fairway.

“It was a pretty lucky shot,” Wie said. “I thought it was for sure OB.”

First-round leader Shanshan Feng bogeyed the final two holes for a 73 to drop into a tie for fourth with Cristie Kerr at 5 under. Kerr had a 70.

Thompson, Pak and Wie played in calm morning conditions, while the breeze picked up as Feng and Kerr finished their afternoon rounds on the overcast day.

“The wind kind of picked up, so it was actually tougher playing compared to yesterday,” Feng said. “I think I actually did pretty well. I did make two bogeys coming in, but I was still concentrating, and it just happens. Sometimes you make good strokes and they don’t fall on this course. I’m still positive.”

Anna Nordqvist, the winner in Thailand in February and Carlsbad last week, was tied for sixth at 4 under after a 69. Playing partner Stacy Lewis, the 2011 champion, had a 70 to join 16-year-old Lydia Ko and Hall of Famer Karrie Webb at 1 under. Ko and Webb, a two-time winner this year, also shot 70.

Defending champion Inbee Park was even par after a 70.

Team Canada’s Brooke Henderson carded a 4-under 68 to climb 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 36th at 1 over par. The 16-year-old Smiths Falls, Ont. native had just one blemish on her second-round scorecard – a bogey on the par 4 16th.

Brooke Henderson

Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham failed to qualify for weekend action. The former Team Canada member shot an even-par 72 Friday to finish 8 over, tying for 92nd.

LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan weighed in Friday on Golf Digest’s provocative cover featuring Paulina Gretzky.

The cover photo shows Gretzky in skintight capris and a bra.

Known for provocative pictures on her social media accounts, Gretzky is former hockey star Wayne Gretzky’s daughter and PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson’s fiancee.

Former LPGA Tour star Lorena Ochoa was the last female pro to appear on the magazine’s cover in October 1992. Golf Digest featured Golf Channel’s Holly Sonders in May 2013 and model Kate Upton posed with Arnold Palmer for the December issue.

“It’s frustrating for female golfers,” Stacy Lewis said. “It’s kind of the state of where we’ve always been. We don’t get respect for being the golfers that we are. Obviously, Golf Digest is trying to sell magazines. But at the same time you’d like to see a little respect for the women’s game.”

The official statement from Whan is below…

Obviously we’re disappointed and frustrated by the editorial direction (and timing) Golf Digest has chosen with the announcement of its most recent magazine cover.

If a magazine called Golf Digest is interested in showcasing females in the game, yet consistently steers away from the true superstars who’ve made history over the last few years, something is clearly wrong.

Inbee Park wins 3-straight major championships in 2013.  Stacy Lewis, in 2012, becomes the first American to win Rolex Player of the Year since 1994.  Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko set historical benchmarks while blossoming as the Tour’s youngest ever champions.  And evidently, not one has been “cover worthy” for Golf Digest.  “Growing the game” means a need for more role models and in these exciting times for women’s golf, the LPGA is overflowing with them.

At this point, I’m done talking about it and I hope the attention of the media and fans will shift in the proper direction.  The true stars representing women’s golf have a grand stage this weekend at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.  I’m confident that the year’s first major championship will result in another compelling champion and the traditional Sunday leap into Poppie’s Pond will grab the media spotlight it so deserves.

Jerry Tarde, Golf Digest’s editor in chief, released a statement on their website regarding the cover.

“Sports figures, celebrities and models have appeared on Golf Digest covers since the magazine’s beginning,” stated Tarde. “Paulina ranks at the high end of the golf celebrity scene today, and she has a compelling story to tell. She also might get some new people interested in the game.”

The May issue, in which Gretzky demonstrates six golf-improvement exercises and discusses her myriad connections to the sports world, will be available in tablet edition April 8, and on newsstands April 15. You can see photos from Gretzky’s cover shoot here.

HUMBLE, Texas – Sergio Garcia surged to the top of the leaderboard by shooting a 7-under par 65 in the second round of the Houston Open on Friday.

The Spaniard’s 12-under overall score matches the 36-hole low at the 7,441-yard Golf Club of Houston, and he’s one shot ahead of Matt Kuchar – who is 11 under overall.

Garcia, opening on the back nine, climbed the leaderboard with a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch on his front nine. His eagle on No. 13 came after sticking his 282-yard second shot to 5 feet.

First-round co-leader Bill Haas followed his opening 65 with a 2-over 74 in gusty conditions. The other first-round leader, Charley Hoffman, fell to 3 under overall.

Phil Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 and is 6 under overall, six shots back of Garcia.

Graham DeLaet and Stephen Ames qualified for weekend play. DeLaet was 1-under Friday and sits tied for 27th at 3-under for the championship. Ames also carded a 1-under 71 Friday, he’s at 1-under and tied for 56th.

David Hearn (+2, T93) and Mike Weir (+3, T109) missed the 36-hole cut.

CADIZ, Spain – Marc Warren of Scotland shot a 5-under 67 Friday to take the clubhouse lead at the NH Collection Open before the second round was suspended because of darkness.

Warren made six birdies and a bogey for a 5-under total of 139 to sit one shot ahead of Felipe Aguilar of Chile, who carded a 69.

David Horsey of England was also on 5 under through 15 holes to join Warren atop the leaderboard before play was stopped.

Rain delayed the start of the inaugural event on Thursday, forcing the first round to also be suspended and finished on Friday morning.

Horsey and 44 more golfers in the 144-player field will have to complete the second round early Saturday.

TORONTO – Nike Golf’s latest footwear design is breathable, flexible and perfect for summer – it’s also the newest member of the TW’ 14 family.

Available beginning May 1st at retailers across Canada, the TW’ 14 Mesh merges innovative technologies from the original TW’ 14, like the Nike Free-inspired outsole.

Nike Golf designers paired the Nike Free-inspired design and Dynamic Flywire technology featured in the TW’ 14 with a ventilated mesh upper and lower-profile Integrated Traction on the outsole. The result: A breathable, lightweight golf shoe that allows for freedom of movement and maximum ground feel for a more powerful, natural motion.

“The mesh upper and Integrated Traction options have been incredibly successful with the TW’ 14 on NIKEiD,” says Lee Walker, Nike Golf Footwear Product Director. “Consumers have told us they love it. So we created a version of the TW’ 14 with those features that people can try on in stores and purchase on the spot.”

The Nike Free-inspired outsole allows for flexibility and full athletic motion, while Dynamic Flywire technology cradles the foot for an adaptive, glove-like fit. Low-profile Integrated Traction makes the TW’ 14 Mesh a versatile option for both on and off the course.

The TW’ 14 Mesh is available in White/Black-Volt-Wolf Grey as well as Base Grey/Black-Lagoon Red-Dark Base Grey and will retail for $180.

VICTORIA, B.C. – Team Canada will be sending four boys from the Development Squad to compete in the World Junior Team Qualifier from Apr. 7-9 at the Victoria Golf Club.

Competing against Canada in the 54-hole stroke play event are teams from Mexico as well as Trinidad & Tobago. All teams will be vying for two available slots, given to those with the lowest total aggregate scores. Each day, teams will submit their three lowest individual scores to be counted towards their overall total.

Representing Canada are juniors Matt Williams (Calgary), Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.), Carter Simon (Sutton, Ont.) and Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.). The boys are fresh off some stiff competition at the Azalea Invitational last week in Charleston, S.C., where they matched up against some of the world’s top amateurs in preparation for the qualifier.

The winning teams will earn a ticket to play in the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan this June.  Each team will send four players, accompanied by one coach and one captain.

Live scoring of the qualifying event can be found here.

HUMBLE, Texas – Phil Mickelson did more than prove to just himself that he’s ready for next week’s Masters on Thursday.

The five-time major winner showed to everyone that he’s fully recovered from last week’s muscle pull and likely to be a factor in this week’s Houston Open as well.

Without so much as a practice round this week at the 7,441-yard Golf Club of Houston, Mickelson opened with a 4-under par 68 in Thursday’s opening round.

The bogey-free performance was a far cry from last week when Mickelson was forced to withdraw during the third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side

“I’m surprised because I was worried about the Masters,” Mickelson said. “I was certainly worried about Houston, but it healed a lot quicker. I felt great today; didn’t feel any pain or discomfort and didn’t even think about it.”

Mickelson is three shots back of first-round co-leaders Bill Haas and Charley Hoffman, both who finished at 7 under. Hass had five birdies on his back nine, while Hoffman needed just 27 putts to earn a share of the lead.

Keegan Bradley and Matt Kuchar lead a group of five golfers at 6 under. J.B. Holmes, Erik Compton and Jim Renner are also at 6 under, with 10 golfers at 5 under.

Of the 144 players in the field, 113 finished at even par or under on an overcast and occasionally misty day.

Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, playing in the afternoon and one of the five top-10 players in the world in the tournament, finished with a 2-under 70. Graham DeLaet matched McIlroy’s 70 and the pair are in a group of 17 players tied for 59th.

Mike Weir is 1 under and tied for 76, Stephen Ames is at even par after a 72 and David Hearn is 3 over.

While Haas and Hoffman shared the lead after Thursday’s play, it was Mickelson – who was forced to withdraw during last week’s third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side – who was the center of attention leading into next week at Augusta National.

Mickelson has won the Masters three times, the latest coming in 2010, but his status was in doubt following last week’s injury.

The left-hander, however, underwent treatment in the days following his departure from San Antonio – along with fitting in two days of light practice at Augusta National – and appeared in top ball-striking form on Thursday.

“One of the things I really worked on hard today was staying focused on each shot,” Mickelson said. “… I needed to play here this week and really challenge myself in that regard to give myself the best chance for next week.”

Opening on the back nine at the former Redstone Golf Club, which was renamed the Gold Club of Houston following an ownership change, Mickelson was bogey free despite needing 31 putts.

He made the turn at 2 under following a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th, and he birdied both of the par 5s on his back nine to put himself squarely in contention. Mickelson won the Houston Open in 2011, and the course’s Masters-like setup – including slick greens and tight rough – is a key reason he’s returned every year since.

“He was striking it, he was hitting it long and great,” Bradley said of Mickelson. “… He seems like it was feeling a lot better today than it was in San Antonio.”

Kuchar, who finished tied for fourth at last week’s Texas Open, had three straight birdies in the middle of his round on Thursday – highlighted by a 47-foot birdie putt on the 445-yard par-4 second hole.

McIlroy, one of five of the top 10 players in the world in the field, was as low as 3 under before a pair of bogeys on the back nine.

World No. 10 Dustin Johnson withdrew following an opening 8-over par 80.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Michelle Wie let a couple of shots slip away late Thursday afternoon in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, leaving her a shot behind Shanshan Feng.

Tied for the lead after playing a four-hole stretch in 5 under, Wie lipped out a 3-foot par putt on the par-3 17th, then settled for par and a 5-under 67 after her wedge approach released long on the par-5 18th.

“I’ll take it,” Wie said. “I’ll take a 67 here.”

Feng shot a 66 in perfect morning conditions at Mission Hills in the first major championship of the year. The 24-year-old Chinese player had seven birdies and a bogey.

“This morning, it was playing easier because there was no wind,” Feng said. “The pin positions weren’t that hard. We actually had a lot of birdie chances.”

Se Ri Pak birdied her final hole to match Wie at 67. The 36-year-old Pak won the last of her five major titles in 2006.

“Just a solid round,” Pak said. “The greens got a little firmer, but I got pretty good distance control.”

Angel Yin, a 15-year-old high school freshman from the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia, was another stroke back at 68 with Amy Yang.

Wie birdied the par-5 ninth and par-4 10th, made a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 11th and moved into a tie for the lead with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th. She got up-and-down for par from near a steep face in a bunker on the par-4 15th, hitting to 1 1/2 feet with her left foot almost 2 feet above her right.

“I think Duncan (French, her caddie) and I did a really good job of course management,” Wie said. “Just was aggressive on the holes I needed to be and conservative on the other holes.”

Wie is making her 12th start in the tournament. She was ninth in 2003 at age 13, fourth the following year and tied for third at 16 in 2006.

“I think when you’re younger you’re kind of fearless,” Wie said. “You don’t know what failure is.”

Wie has two LPGA Tour victories, winning the 2009 Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico and the 2010 Canadian Women’s Open. She has been in the top 16 in all five of her starts this year, finishing a season-best fourth in Thailand.

“I’m so grateful to have rounds like these,” Wie said.

Feng won the 2012 LPGA Championship to become the tour’s first Chinese winner and had two victories late last year. She tied for 16th last week in the Kia Classic.

“The beginning of this year I was kind of a little lost because I lost a little weight and my swing kind of changed a little,” Feng said. “I wasn’t swinging very comfortably.”

Paired with 58-year-old Hall of Famer Amy Alcott, Feng rebounded from a bogey on 15 with a birdie on par-4 16th and closed with two pars.

“She was actually encouraging me,” Feng said about Alcott. “Like I made a bogey on 15, and she was like, `OK, let’s make two birdies back in the last three holes.’ I was like, `Yes, ma’am.’ Then I only made one.”

Alcott shot an 81 in her 36th start in the event she won in 1983, 1988 and 1991. In 1988, she became the first player to take the now-traditional victory leap into Poppie’s Pond.

“She was very sweet starting off and we were talkative,” Alcott said. “She hits it very solid. Just a very, very talented young player. I was very impressed with her putting and just her overall game, just how she managed herself on the golf course.”

Anna Nordqvist, the winner last week in Carlsbad for her second victory of the year, opened with a 71. Playing partner Stacy Lewis, the 2011 winner, had a 73. She struggled off the tee, hitting drives to the right.

“The good thing is I’m hitting my irons well and hitting some good putts,” Lewis said. “If I can straighten out my driver I’ll be right there.”

Sixteen-year-old Lydia Ko also shot 73.

“I didn’t hit my driver that well,” Ko said.

Karrie Webb, also a two-time winner this year, was in the group at 73, and defending champion Inbee Park had a 74. Park is struggling with her putting after dominating on the greens last year when she swept the first three majors and won six times.

“The opportunities I had, I didn’t make the putts,” Park said.

Yin was asked if there was a player she wanted to meet, but was too shy to approach.

“Michelle Wie,” Yin said. “If she sat next to me and said `Hi’ to me, I’d probably run.”

The 24-year-old Wie laughed when told about Yin’s response.

“It’s crazy. It’s pretty insane,” Wie said. “These girls are starting to make me feel really old.”

Sixteen-year-old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. opened with a 5-over 77 and is tied for 82nd.

Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto carded an 8-over 80 and is tied for 105th.

CADIZ, Spain – Jack Doherty of Scotland shot a 3-under 69 for the clubhouse lead in the first round of the rain-interrupted NH Collection Open on Thursday.

Play was delayed by nearly three hours due to heavy rain before Doherty came through with six birdies to take a one-shot lead at La Reserva golf club.

Four players were at 2 under, and a large group of players sat at 1 under as half of the 144-player field was unable to finish the opening round of the inaugural European Tour event.

Doherty, who came through qualifying school in November on his 12th try, dealt with the windy conditions, adding “every week is big, but a big week here would be huge” for keeping his tour card.

Every golfer dreams of walking Augusta National’s fairways and on April 6^th it will become a reality for two young Canadians.

For Remi Chartier and Nyah Kelly it doesn’t get much better – they not only get to go to the Masters, but they will be competing on its historic grounds.

Remi, 13, of Beaconsfield, Que., and Nyah, 9, of Bobcaygeon, Ont., are the only two Canadians who qualified for the inaugural Drive, Chip & Putt Championship alongside 86 other participants.

“When I found out I qualified, I just wanted to hug my dad,” Remi said. “We watch golf together every week but the Masters is by far my favourite tournament and I’ve always wanted to go.”

Golf is a family activity for both players and each Masters bound group is busting with excitement. Remi spends a lot of time golfing with his father, Scott Chartier, at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, while Nyah picked up the game from her mother, Shana Kelly, who is a PGA of Canada professional at Kelly Glen Golf and Learning Centre.

“We’ve never been to Masters, it’s always been on our bucket list,” Nyah’s mother exclaimed. “Golf is a family sport, everyone plays. I hear from people when I’m not around that Nyah gives better lessons than I do, I think she’s picked up the most by watching and listening to me teach.”

The youngsters both qualified by winning their regional qualifying divisions at Drive, Chip & Putt sites in the U.S. Remi won the boys 12-13 division with a score of 132 at the New England qualifier, while Nyah notched 92 points for her victory at the historic Bethpage Black Course.

“I’m so excited about getting to the Masters with my family,” said Nyah who’s been preparing by hitting shots indoors when she gets a break from figure skating. “I think I will be nervous when I get there, but I’m just going to try to keep myself calm before and have fun.”

Nyah Kelly (Rich Schultz/ Getty Images)

Nerves certainly aren’t uncommon at Augusta, but both competitors said they feel like they are prepared for the challenge. Prior to Nyah qualifying, her family had converted her grandfather’s warehouse into an indoor facility where she works on her game in the winter. Remi keeps his game sharp by practicing with his school’s sport étude program at Collège de Montréal.

“I have a bit of confidence, the greens I practice on during the winter I think are faster than Augusta because they are made out of wood with carpet,” said Remi who posted the best score in putting at qualifying earning 60 points. “When I get there the greens might feel a little slow but it’s the Masters so obviously they will be fast.”

For both families this opportunity is proving to be about much more than just the competition. They are taking advantage of the golf trip of a lifetime by bringing along siblings and grandparents for the experience.

“Going down to the Masters, we’re looking at it as we’re going down to collect a prize because we’ve already won,” Remi’s father said. “That’s the victory getting down to step foot on Augusta and actually getting to hit some balls at the club.”

The championship final of Drive, Chip & Putt takes place on Sunday, April 6 and will feature 88 junior competitors from across North America. Remi and Nyah will compete against 10 other finalists in their divisions and will get two drives on a 30-yard wide fairway with the longest drive in their division receiving 11 points. In the chipping category, they will take two shots with the closest receiving 11 points. At the putting station, they will attempt 6ft, 15ft and 30ft putts with the closest cumulative distance from the three holes combined to crown the winner.

Remi Chartier

A perfect score at Drive, Chip and Putt would be 33 points and both players believe they have the game to do it.

“Driving is my best! No wait, actually chipping is my best!” Nyah, who scored 45 points in chipping at qualifying said with a laugh.

Asked if either hoped to meet any PGA Tour players during their Masters experience, Nyah was quick to exclaim she loves 2012 Masters Champion, Bubba Watson, while Remi chose last year’s winner.

“I like so many golfers but if I had to pick one it would be Adam Scott because I’ve always liked him,” he said.

The journey to Augusta will start early for the groups, as they both plan to arrive on site prior to the event to enjoy the atmosphere.

“I’ve driven by the gates imaging what it would be like to go inside,” Remi’s father said. “So the real trophy for this whole thing is getting there.”

Thanks to Remi and Nyah both families will get to see what Magnolia Lane is all about.

For more information on Drive, Chip and Putt, click here.

Did you know: CN Future Links runs an annual National Junior Skills Challenge where participants from active CN Future Links sites across the country compete on the Junior Skills Leaderboard for a chance to attend the World Junior Girls Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. where they will compete at the CN Future Links National Junior Skills Challenge against other top competitors in their age category. 

To find out more information on the CN Future Links National Junior Skills Challenge, click here.