HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — Even in grass up to her knees, Lorena Ochoa never panicked.

Trying to become the fourth woman to win three straight majors, Ochoa wanted to get off to a strong start yesterday in the McDonald's LPGA Championship, and instead had nowhere to go in the rough left of the 13th fairway. She eventually had to go 50 yards back to play her next shot and took double bogey.

Four holes into her round, she was eight shots behind.

"For sure I had to fight hard and catch up," Ochoa said. "And I did it."

She didn't make it all the way back, but she followed her plan on a soggy Bulle Rock course. Even par by the turn, she made three birdies on her back nine for a 3-under 69 that left her three shots behind veteran Lorie Kane of Canada and rookie Emily Bastel.

And she was one shot ahead of Annika Sorenstam, who has six months left to catch Ochoa before she retires.

"Today was important just not to get away too far from the leaders, and that's why I'm so happy that I did," Ochoa said. "Three under for the first day of a major is good, even though I had the double bogey. And hopefully, tomorrow I'll have a great round."

Neither of the leaders has had a top 10 all year, and Kane has struggled to make cuts. Bastel won the Futures Tour money title a year ago, and is slowly making progress.

PGA TOUR

WEEKLEY LEADS ST. JUDE

Combining his usual strong ballstriking with efficient putting, Boo Weekley shot a 5-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Stanford St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn. He birdied the 18th to move a stroke ahead of Tommy Armour III.

Armour, who shot a 66, had been tied with Weekley at 5 under. But Armour bogeyed his 16th hole about the same time Weekley finished up with his birdie.

Hawai'i's Dean Wilson, a Castle High alum, was in a 13-way tie for 11th place after opening with a 69. Punahou alum Parker McLachlin is taking the next couple of week off from the Tour.