No bitter memories for upbeat major winner Pettersen

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (Reuters) - Twelve months after squandering a golden opportunity to clinch her first major title, Norway's Suzann Pettersen is back at the Kraft Nabisco Championship as one of the game's elite players.

Pettersen buried the disappointment of a stumbling finish at Mission Hills Country Club last year by securing her first grand slam crown just two months later at the LPGA Championship.

She ended a glittering 2007 campaign with five titles on the LPGA Tour, finishing second behind Lorena Ochoa in the money list with career-best earnings of more than $1.8 million.

"I'm excited to be here," Pettersen, 26, told reporters on Wednesday during preparation for Thursday's opening round at Mission Hills. "I have very good memories from here.

"Last year was a very good tournament and began my turnaround for the year into something positive. I have so many good memories seeing the course again. I'm just happy to be here."

Asked if there was anything in particular she had learned from her final-round collapse, the world number three replied: "Being in a position to win on the Sunday, you all learn stuff.

"If you stay in contention every week, sooner or later you'll find out what you need to get the job done."

A year ago, Pettersen squandered a three-shot lead with a bogey, double-bogey, bogey run from the 15th, slipping back into a tie for second place a stroke behind winner Morgan Pressel.