Sorenstam snatches win over final holes

A classic charge by Annika Sorenstam.

Three shots behind Grace Park with five holes to go, six-time LPGA player of the year Sorenstam rallied with an eagle, birdie and three pars to win her fourth Samsung World Championship by three shots over Park on Sunday.

``Today, it was up to me to do something,'' said Sorenstam, who shot a 5-under 67 to finish 18-under. ``It was a wonderful day, to summarize it.

``This is special, to come from behind. You've got the 20 best players in the world and you've got to really play some good golf.''

Sorenstam chipped in for an eagle on No. 15 to draw even with Park, then tucked her approach shot within 6 feet of the pin on No. 17 and made that birdie putt to take sole possession of the lead for the first time in the tournament.

It was her 17th come-from-behind victory in 54 career LPGA wins. She has 66 titles overall, and has won six of 15 LPGA events this year and two foreign tournaments.

The leader the first three days, Park had a final-round 73 that included bogeys on the final two holes.

Park, smiling most of the tournament because she was playing well and leading, turned grim-faced as her three-shot lead disappeared.

``I haven't felt this badly in a long time,'' she said afterward. ``I'm playing good golf but just not getting it done.''

Amateur Michelle Wie, who turned 15 on Monday, had a 70 to tie for 13th with Jennifer Rosales at 5-under.

``It could have been a lot better,'' Wie said of her play during the tournament. ``I had a lot of fun and now it's back to the books (in Honolulu).''

Sorenstam, playing in the twosome ahead of Park, chipped in a 40-footer from the fringe for an eagle 3 on the par-5, 538-yard No. 15 to catch Park at 17-under.

When the ball dropped into the cup, Sorenstam leaped straight up, her arms high over her head, then bounded over to tap knuckles with caddy Terry McNamara.

``I got a little extra adrenalin pumping,'' Sorenstam said. ``Then I think the key putt was on 17 and really put the pressure on Grace.''

Despite gusting winds, Sorenstam had a 4-under 32 on the final nine holes.

Lorena Ochoa shot a 70 to finish third at 13-under, and defending champion Sophie Gustafson was another two shots back in fourth after a 71.

Cristie Kerr, who like Sorenstam began the day three shots behind Park, struggled to a 75 that dropped her into fifth at 278. Juli Inkster, a three-time winner of the event, had a closing 73 to finish tied for sixth with Jeon Jang (72) at 9-under.

Park, who won the Kraft Nabisco earlier this year for her first major title, lost for just the second time in the six events she's led going into the final round.

``I fell apart and didn't get the job done and that's it,'' Park said, shaking her head.

Sorenstam had drawn into a tie for the lead when she birdied No. 7, but Park came back to birdie the same hole and regain the lead. She reached 18-under with a birdie at No. 12, but bogeyed the next hole.

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