Sorenstam coasts to 7th LPGA win

Annika Sorenstam won her seventh LPGA Tour title of the year and ninth worldwide event Sunday, closing with a 5-under 65 for a four-stroke victory in the Williams Championship.

"This is shaping up to be my best season probably," said Sorenstam, the Swedish star who won eight tour titles last year and has 39 victories in nine seasons.

Using a new cross-handed putting grip, Sorenstam birdied four of the last six holes to easily hold off Canadian Lorie Kane with an 11-under 199 total on the Tulsa Country Club course.

"I'm thrilled with the way I played today," said Sorenstam, playing her first event since winning the Compaq Open in Sweden on Aug. 18. "I made a few mistakes but I bounced back quickly."

Sorenstam earned $150,000 to push her season total to $2,061,991 in 16 events. She set the LPGA Tour record last year with $2,105,868, becoming the first player in tour history to top $2 million.

Kane, playing in the final group with Sorenstam, closed with a 68 to finish second. The Canadian birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to move within two strokes with two holes remaining.

Both players hit tee shots on the par-3 17th within 7 feet of the cup. Kane's putt slid just right, while Sorenstam made her birdie putt. She pumped her fist and smiled.

"She hit a great tee shot, but I hit a great shot myself," said Sorenstam, preparing for the Solheim Cup matches between Europe and the United States in two weeks in Minnesota.

"I knew if I make this I've got a three-shot lead. I felt really comfortable after making it."

The Swede finished the round with a birdie on 18 after an approach shot to 7 feet. She nailed the putt, pumped her fist twice and flipped the ball into the gallery.

Kane had 16 pars in a bogey-free round.

"I still think I could have won if I put some pressure on Annika early on," Kane said, saying she blew birdie opportunities on the first two holes. "But I'm happy with the way I finished."

"Anytime you can play a final round on Sunday contending with the No. 1 player in the world, you're doing things right."

U.S. Solheim Cup player Cristie Kerr (69) and Australia's Joanne Mills (67) tied for third at 6-under 204.

Mills birdied the first four holes to take the lead, but bogeyed No. 5 and played the final 13 holes in even par with two bogeys and two birdies.

Kerr took the lead on the fifth hole with her third straight birdie, but was 1 over the rest of the way with consecutive bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12 and birdie on the 16th.

Meg Mallon shot a 64, the best score of the final round, to match Beth Bauer (69) at 4-under 206.

"I was upset over shooting so poorly on the first day," said Mallon, who opened with a 74. "It was just a lack of knowledge of this course."

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page