Cristie Kerr ends Sorenstam's streak

Cristie Kerr learned her lessons well during all those rounds she played with Annika Sorenstam.

So well that Sorenstam's winning streak is history.

The Swede's bid for a record sixth straight victory ended with an early double bogey in the final round of the Michelob Ultra Open on Sunday. But it was Kerr's doggedness -- learned from Sorenstam -- that really put the tournament out of reach.

With the rest of the field struggling with the wind and the rigors of a 36-hole day, Kerr steadily pulled away, shooting 68-72 to win by five strokes. She finished at 8-under 276, 10 strokes ahead of Sorenstam, for her fifth career victory.

``Not giving up on myself and having that attitude, that I need to get further and further ahead, that is what Annika does very well,'' Kerr said. ``I have learned that from her. She's never really satisfied with being too close to anybody. I learned how to do that this week.''

Sorenstam had won her previous five starts to match Nancy Lopez's record winning streak, and two of the victories came at Kerr's expense. Sorenstam beat Kerr in a playoff in the ADT Championship late last year for win No. 2. At the MasterCard Classic this year in Mexico, Kerr took a three-stroke lead over Sorenstam into the final round only to wind up third. Sorenstam picked up victory No. 3.

After taking the last five weeks off, though, Sorenstam wasn't at her best. She opened with a 5-over 76, struggled with her putting and never made one of those patented runs to bury her opponents.

``I'm not going to find any excuses for it,'' said Sorenstam, who tied for 12th at 2 over. ``It was totally me.''

But part of it was Kerr's doing, too. Taking a two-stroke lead into the final 36 holes, Kerr ground her way around the course Sunday morning while everyone else watched their scores climb in windy conditions. She shot another 68, extending her lead to five strokes going into the final round.

``To have that wind going 25 mph, winds all day, and to play 36 holes, it was really a test for everybody,'' Kerr said. ``And I just knew that I wanted to extend a lead and try to get out ahead, so that you don't let it come down to the last couple of holes.''

Sorenstam was trying to rally, shooting a 69 to get to 1 under for the tournament. Though that leapfrogged her into fifth place heading into the final round, she was still eight strokes behind Kerr.

``I was excited about the opportunity, especially the way I played this morning,'' Sorenstam said. ``Starting the fourth round, I thought I was in great shape. But the wheels came off early, and I couldn't really recover, unfortunately.''

On the par-5 No. 3, she pushed her tee shot into some trees and had no choice but to punch out, landing in the rough. She then topped a 4-wood, hitting the face of a bunker and landing maybe 45 yards from where she started.

Her fourth shot sailed into a greenside bunker well below the elevated putting surface. It was a bad lie, too, forcing her to stand with one foot inside the bunker and one foot out, and she could only get the ball up to the middle of the hill in front of her.

She chipped within 2 feet and tapped in, but the double bogey left her at 2 over for the tournament -- and 11 shots behind Kerr.

``I am disappointed, there is no doubt about that,'' Sorenstam said. ``I just have to start over and maybe I can do another streak.''

Though Kerr noticed Sorenstam was on the leaderboard at the end of the third round, she lost track of her after that. Kerr's only concern was holding steady, and not losing too many shots off her lead.

She made birdies on 11 and 15, and made a nice putt to save par on 16, to keep herself at even par. She bogeyed 18, but it didn't matter. The victory was hers, and all she had to do was finish the hole.

Jill McGill (72) finished second at 3-under 281. Natalie Gulbis, Catriona Matthew and Michele Redman tied for third at 2 under.

After she putted out, a wide grin crossed Kerr's face and she heaved her ball into the air. Gulbis ran onto the green and showered her friend with beer, and Kerr took a swig of it before pouring some on her head.

``It feels great,'' said Kerr, who earned $330,000. ``I played as good as I could and I won by a few shots. When you're playing against the best players in the world, that's truly remarkable.''

Divots

Sorenstam finished a tournament above par for the first time since the 2003 John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic. She was 1 over in the 54-hole event, tying for 10th. ... Gulbis' finish was the best of her career. ... Amateur Morgan Pressel shot 2 under in the final round to finish at 4-over 288.

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