It’s Not Lonely at the Top With Webb and Sorenstam

The Nabisco Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the year, begins today at Mission Hills Country Club, where there is one question that has to be answered:

Whose turn is it, anyway?

At the moment, it looks as if there’s a rotation thing going on. It’s either Karrie Webb or it’s Annika Sorenstam . . . or Annika Sorenstam or Karrie Webb.

This may seem monotonous or overpowering or maybe even illegal, but when the $1.25-million tournament starts on the stretched-out track here in the desert, chances are once again that they’re the ones to beat.

Webb or Sorenstam is either No. 1 or No. 2 in money winnings, player-of-the-year points, scoring average, rounds under par and top-10 finishes. No other player has finished a year at the top of any of those categories since 1996.

Last year, Webb won six times and edged Juli Inkster for player of the year. Meanwhile, Sorenstam wore braces, didn’t smile much and had a rare off-year.

But in 1998, it was Sorenstam’s turn to dominate, with four victories, the money title, the player-of-the-year award and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average.

Sorenstam also had the edge in 1997 with six victories, the money title and player-of-the-year award, leaving Webb with the Vare Trophy. In 1996, Webb became the first player to make $1 million and she won the money title, plus player of the year. And it was Sorenstam’s turn to win the Vare Trophy.

As far as rivalries go, this one may actually go a long way given that they’re both young--Webb is 25, Sorenstam 29--and at the top of their games.

In fact, you have to give the LPGA an edge over the PGA Tour in the rivalry business because Webb has Sorenstam while Tiger Woods has . . . well, who does he have? Maybe Sergio Garcia, possibly David Duval, but no one has stepped forward to challenge Woods on the big scene as his prime antagonist.

“Our rivalry is good for the LPGA because it gives you [reporters] something to write about,” Webb said. “It also gives some excitement to the gallery.

“Obviously, Annika is playing well. I’m just hoping to do the same and keep playing well.”

Sorenstam says she knows all about Webb’s successes this year--three victories in four LPGA events.

“I think Karrie’s record speaks for itself,” she said.

Maybe, but if Webb’s record decides not to talk, it should be noted that Webb already has won $424,129. That’s nearly $180,000 ahead of No. 2 Sorenstam and more than double Laura Davies’ earnings at No. 3.

Sorenstam said that because of the way Webb dominated in 1999, there was no choice but to improve her own game.

“The way she played last year kind of got me motivated,” she said. “I finished fourth on the money list. I lost the No. 1 spot and that kind of got me fired up.”

Sorenstam spent four weeks working with her longtime coach, Henry Rice, to improve her short game, especially her putting. Sorenstam, who also got help from Dave Stockton, finished 88th in putting last year, but she has improved to No. 50 this year.

For the first time, Sorenstam says she is motivated to work hard on her game.

“I was very spoiled with success for four or five years and then I had a bad year last year and for a moment, it felt like the world was falling apart,” she said. “But now, it’s coming together again.”

Meanwhile, Webb has had it all together for a while. She won three consecutive LPGA events and nearly won a fourth in a row, but finished second to Sorenstam’s younger sister, Charlotta, at last week’s Standard Register Ping.

“It wasn’t meant to be,” Webb said.

Her game is as solid as it has been and so is her confidence, a combination that should come in handy in her bid to unseat defending champion Dottie Pepper.

The Mission Hills tournament course has been lengthened about 60 yards and the tees moved back on nine holes. The biggest changes were at No. 1, which is 20 yards longer and now 377 yards, No. 13 (17 yards longer at 403 yards) and No. 15 (23 yards longer at 387).

David Johnson, the director of golf operations, also brought in the fairways at Nos. 15 and 16 and let the rough grow slightly taller. The result, says Webb, is a stiffer challenge than last year, when Pepper won by six shots over Meg Mallon with a 19-under 269.

“The course is definitely set up a lot tougher than last year,” Webb said. “You’re going to have to be very patient.”

And wait for your turn, of course.

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Nabisco Championship

* Where: Rancho Mirage.

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Course: Mission Hills Country Club (6,460 yards, par 72).

* TV: ESPN (Today-Friday, 12:30-2:30 p.m.) and Ch. 7 (Saturday, 1:30-3 p.m.; Sunday, 1-3 p.m.)