Sorenstam struggles to be nine shots back

There's a Swede in the lead at the Michelob Ultra Open.

No, not THAT one.

Trying to become the first LPGA player to win six straight tournaments, Annika Sorenstam instead had one of her worst rounds in recent memory Thursday. She shot a 5-over 76, leaving her nine strokes behind leaders Silvia Cavalleri and Catrin Nilsmark.

``I don't know what to say about this round,'' Sorenstam said. ``I thought I played pretty good today. It just didn't go my way at all.''

No, it didn't. Sorenstam's score was her highest in relation to par since a 5-over 77 in the second round of the 2002 British Open. That, by the way, was also the last time she missed a cut. She shot a 76 in the second round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship last year, but par was 72.

It also was her highest score in an opening round since a 76 in the 2000 Rochester International, and it ended a stretch of 43 rounds at par or better.

``I can't remember it. And I don't want to remember it,'' Sorenstam said when asked the last time she had a round this bad. ``I just want to move forward. I've got to go low the next three days, and I know I can do it.''

She's going to have to Friday if she wants to play this weekend. The top 70 players and ties make the cut, and 82 are at 2-over or better.

Nilsmark and Cavalleri are leading at 4-under 67. Cristie Kerr, Kristen Samp, Leta Lindley, Laura Diaz and Jill McGill are at 3-under, and there's a big bunch at 69.

But if anyone can rally, it's Sorenstam.

``No,'' Nilsmark said when asked if nine strokes is a comfortable cushion when her fellow Swede is around. ``More like 29 or 39, to be a little safe.''

Sorenstam has been on an amazing roll lately, winning five straight to tie Nancy Lopez's long-standing LPGA record. She shares the LPGA record for biggest comeback victory, rallying from 10 shots back on the final day to win The Office Depot in 2001. She also made up four strokes in the final three holes, then won in a playoff, at the Safeway International, her fourth victory in the streak.

And she finished her round Thursday with her best shot of the day, chipping in from 50 feet on the par-4 No. 9.

``I'm hoping my luck is turning,'' she said. ``That's how I'm going to look at it. That's what I need the next three days.''

Conditions are expected to get nasty, too, after a windy and cool day Thursday. Rain is forecast all day Friday, with high temperatures only in the 50s.

``I wouldn't be surprised if she shot a low number tomorrow, even in bad weather,'' Lindley said. ``It's only one round. A lot can happen in three more rounds. I would not count her out, by any means.''

Sorenstam hasn't played since winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship, a five-week layoff. But she said she felt good when she started her round, and she didn't look unnerved by the pressure that's come with the streak. She smiled and waved at the few dozen fans who greeted her with applause when she stepped on the 10th tee, and she smiled and laughed throughout the round.

``I thought I played well,'' she said. ``It's just one of those days.''

For every other golfer, sure. For Sorenstam? No way.

Her drives were spectacular, as usual. She routinely outdrove playing partners Carin Koch and Wendy Ward by 10 yards or more, and her drive on No. 9 carried 300 yards. But her short game was shaky and her putting was dismal.

Take the par-3 17th hole. She had a 4-footer for par, but it curved around the upper edge of the cup and refused to drop. As the crowd groaned, Sorenstam looked around in amazement as if to say, ``What is happening?''

Things weren't any better on the second nine. She three-putted for bogey on the par-3 No. 2, and made another bogey when she missed an 8-footer on No. 4. On the par-5 No. 7, she hit a beautiful drive, the ball landing 195 yards from the green.

But she pushed her second shot far left, and the ball landed on a slope under a group of trees.

``I thought I had a good lie,'' she said.

Not really. She hit a rock and chunked her first attempt to get out, moving the ball only a few feet. She flew the green on her next shot, landing in the rough about 35 feet from the pin. She chipped within 8 feet, but her putt rolled 6 inches past the hole and she finished with a double-bogey.

She finally started looking like her old self on No. 9, her last hole. Her second shot hit the edge of the green and bounced a few feet back, leaving her about 50 feet shy of the hole. She chipped on, and the ball rolled ever so slowly toward the cup, knocking against the pin before dropping in.

One fan yelled, ``Yeah, Annika! Yeah!'' and Sorenstam gave a triumphant swing of her putter. She grinned broadly as she handed the putter to her caddie, and the two slapped hands and bumped fists.

``It's just one of those days,'' she said. ``I've just got to laugh about it and move on.''

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