Notebook: Blumenherst distracted by husband’s first Major League game

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Amanda Blumenherst shot a 7-over 79 on Thursday at the Kraft Nabisco Championship after staying up late Wednesday night to watch husband Nate Freiman make his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics. 

Blumenherst went to bed at 11:30 p.m. and was up at 4:40 a.m. for her 7:26 a.m. tee time. 

"It was a late night and I could not fall asleep because I was so excited," Blumenherst said. "I was bummed out that I wasn't able to be there to watch him, but focus-wise on the golf course it wasn't a problem." 

Freiman had an RBI single in his first at-bat and finished 2 for 3 in the Athletics' 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. 

"I think the entire Yard House – the restaurant we went to – knew that he was my husband because I was just cheering and shouting and jumping up and down," Blumenherst said. 

On Thursday in Oakland's 8-2 victory over Seattle, the 6-foot-8 first baseman drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in his lone plate appearance. The former Duke stars were married in December. 

GULBIS RETURNS: Natalie Gulbis opened with a 2-over 74 in her return to play after recovering from malaria. 

"I'm so excited to get back out here," Gulbis said. "I feel good. It was fun to get out there and play and it's nice that I still have some good energy." 

Infected by a mosquito during the Honda LPGA Thailand, the 30-year-old Gulbis withdrew after the first round the following week in Singapore and missed tournaments in Phoenix and Carlsbad. 

She had a birdie and three bogeys in her morning round. 

"I didn't hit it very well," Gulbis said. 

She won the 2007 Evian Masters for her lone LPGA Tour title.