The $12 million, 34-tournament Ladies Professional Golf Association tour will start Feb. 4 with the Mazda Classic in Florida and a rookie who is expected to win a lot.

But Walker persevered and, starting with this week's season-opening Mazda Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., she will attempt to establish herself as one of the game's premier players.

Pierce, ranked 14th in the world, is scheduled to file documents in San Diego County Superior Court in nearby Vista after arriving today to prepare for the Mazda Classic.

Kathy Postlewait sank a 6-foot putt for par on the first extra hole today to win the $200,000 Mazda Classic in a sudden-death playoff with Betsy King.

Nancy Lopez has won 37 Ladies Professional Golf Association tournaments, but today's victory in the $200,000 Mazda Classic was her first in a season opener.

Davies missed the cut in her first two L.P.G.A. events last month: the Mazda Classic and the Sarasota Classic in Florida.

She won $75,821 and finished tied for third at the Mazda Classic.

She won the first tournament of the season, the Mazda Classic.

"I thought I was in a lot of trouble," said Capriati, who twice recovered from 4-0 deficits en route to winning the Mazda Classic last week in San Diego.

Her best finish was a T-3 at the 1988 Mazda Classic.