Sorenstam’s Open Keys: Five Woods and a Cann

The wiry man toting Annika Sorenstam’s bag and checking her alignment on every shot is Colin Cann, her caddie all through her incredible two-year run to 10 victories on the LPGA tour.

And the bag Cann carries might seem unusual to those familiar with the men’s tour. Sorenstam usually has five woods and no iron longer than the 5-iron.

Sorenstam, who drives with Callaway’s Biggest Big Bertha, carries a 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 wood. She also has the 5-iron through 9-iron, a pitching wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge and a mallet putter.

“The 7-wood pitches (carries) about 185 yards,” Cann, 28, said in the accent of his London home, “and the 9-wood pitches about 170 yards. If it is windy, she will take the 9-wood and replace it with a 4-iron to hit the ball lower.”

Many women pros carry a 7-wood and 9-wood instead of 2-, 3- or 4-irons because it is easier to hold the green with a high, soft wood shot than it is with a lower trajectory long iron that will roll farther once it lands.

Sorenstam’s accuracy with her fairway woods is astounding and she likely will hit many of them on the Witch Hollow course at Pumpkin Ridge next week as she tries to win an unprecedented third consecutive U.S. Women’s Open.

Equally important will be Cann, the reed-thin man who stands behind Sorenstam on every shot, peering through his wire-frame glasses and checking her alignment.

“Little left,” he’ll say softly as Sorenstam adjusts her feet, then he will almost whisper: “Perfect.” And usually the resulting shot is also perfect in what has been a near flawless year for Sorenstam.

On the practice tee, Cann stands with arms folded, pacing Sorenstam’s shots by dispensing balls at a leisurely rate and watching as she places a club on the ground parallel to her feet to once again get the alignment correct.

“Her short game is so much improved,” Cann said. “Now she has no weaknesses. She also is much more comfortable with the attention she is getting.”

Cann walks the course with a pencil behind his right ear, chats frequently with Sorenstam and they occasionally share a private laugh. After nine holes they also each have a tuna fish, lettuce and tomato sandwich and share sips of juice through a straw from a plastic bottle.

Cann began caddying for Sorenstam in Europe three and a half years ago and has been on her bag for all of her 15 victories worldwide except for one in Sweden four years ago.

“We just get along real well,” Cann said.