Sorenstam secures another Major
Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam collected her seventh major title when she staged a successful defence of the LPGA Championship at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware.
With the final 36 holes all taking place yesterday after Friday’s wash-out, the world No 1 shot an amazing third-round 64 to move six clear and could even afford the odd lapse in a closing 72 to secure the €196,700 top prize by three shots on 13-under 271.
South Korean rookie Shi Hyun Ahn shot 66 to take second place, while another Korean, Grace Park, who won the first major of the year, was third on eight under after a 68.
Seven ahead with 10 to play, Sorenstam wobbled by dropping four shots in three holes from the ninth and she found herself just two ahead with three to play.
But birdies at the long 16th – she hit a third shot 94 yards over trees to within a couple of feet of the hole – and at the short 17th allowed her to bogey the last and still win by three.
The win was Sorenstam’s fifth from nine starts worldwide this year, and it was her 52nd in 11 seasons the LPGA Tour.
She has now become the first player to win over $14m (€11.7m) in career earnings and she also breached the $1m (€835,000) for the fifth successive year.
“It was a totally up and down day,” admitted the 33-year-old. “I played so well in the morning and then things started to fall apart.
“But I always felt comfortable and I kept telling my caddie (Terry MacNamara) that things would work out all right. Thankfully, I was correct.
“It was a long day and you do get tired, but I wanted to win so badly. Now I feel great.”
Scot Mhairi McKay was the best of the British players in a tie for 13th place after rounds of 69 and 72.
“It’s tough playing two rounds in one day, but it helps when you play well,” she said.
In the majors, Sorenstam has now won four of the last 10 and finished second in two, third in one and fourth in another.
