Sorenstam defends LPGA Championship title

Sweden's Annika Sorenstam claimed her seventh major title by successfully defending the LPGA Championship on Sunday, cruising to a three-stroke victory with a four-round 13-under-par 271 total.

South Korea's Ahn Shi Hyun finished in second place, two shots ahead of her compatriot Grace Park, who won the first major of the season in March.

With Friday's play having been washed out by rain, the final 36-holes were all completed on the final day and the world number one took control with a third round 64 to move six strokes clear.

However, the last round was more of a struggle.

Seven shots ahead with ten holes to play, Sorenstam had an out of character run of double-bogey, bogey, bogey from the ninth to find herself just two ahead with three to play.

But she birdied the 16th and 17th and could afford to bogey the 18th for a 72 and a comfortable victory over Ahn, who shot 66. Park had a 68 to finish alone in third.

Sorenstam collected $240,000 for her fifth worldwide victory this season, and has now won four of the last ten majors.

"It was a totally up and down day," admitted 33-year-old Sorenstam, showing a mixture of joy and relief.

"I played so well in the morning and then things started to fall apart. I did get a little tired, and also I think it was because I wanted to win so badly.

"I hit a 60-yard wedge shot through the green and took seven at the ninth and then had absolutely no feel through to the 11th. But then I holed a great putt (25-feet) for birdie at the 12th and that made me feel a lot better.

"But even through the poor patch I kept telling my caddie (Terry MacNamara) things would work out all right. Thankfully, I was correct.

"The third shot at the 16th was a key. But I was lucky that the greens were wet and holding and it was exactly the right distance for my sand wedge. But to have a tap-in for birdie was incredible."

For 19-year-old Ahn, who wasn't even a member of the Tour when she won the LPGA event in South Korea last year, it was another sign that she is the latest world-class player to emerge from her country.

Playing several groups ahead of Sorenstam, she set out on the final round nine shots behind, but the flawless five birdie round piled on the pressure.

Park never really threatened to close the gap on Sorenstam, but she made a late attempt at a charge with an eagle at the 16th, although she then dropped a shot at the last.

Sorenstam has now become the first player to win over $14 million in career earnings and breached the $1 million-barrier for a fifth successive year.

At the start of the season, her goal was to become the first player to complete a season's grand slam (all four majors).

She was a disappointing 13th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, but her target now is to win the other three.

Next up is the U.S. Open in Massachusetts in two weeks and then she defends the British Open in August.

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