Webb Shows Dominance

On a long and tiring day for most everyone else, a refreshed Karrie Webb made short work of Pine Needles with phenomenal precision Saturday and seized control of the U.S. Women’s Open.

Webb took a huge step toward a second consecutive Women’s Open title with one of only two rounds below par, a one-under 69 that gave her a five-stroke lead over Se Ri Pak.

The 26-year-old Australian was at six-under 204, despite two bogeys on her final five holes that ended her streak of 32 holes at par or better.

“I’m just trying to play the course and hit as many good shots as I can,” Webb said.

Webb turned in a command performance, but she got a big break by finishing her second round Friday before torrential rain stopped play.

As a result, 42 of the 60 players who made the cut had to return at dawn Saturday to finish their rounds, and 15 of those played 36 holes. One of them was Beth Daniel, the 44-year-old Hall of Famer.

“I’m tired right now,” she said after rounds of 70-71 left her at 214. “If somebody said something to me, I’d probably start crying.”

Cindy Figg-Currier had a share of the lead on Thursday with a three-under 67. The next time she teed it up was 7 a.m. Saturday, and she failed to make a birdie all day in rounds of 76-75.

“My caddie said on the seventh hole, ‘It’s the same shot as this morning.’ I said, ‘I don’t even know what that was.’ ”

But while Webb got the luck of the draw, her strongest play of the year could not be overlooked. She didn’t miss a fairway Saturday and has missed only four in three rounds.

Pak, who played 34 holes Saturday, recovered from a rugged start for an even-par 70 and was at 209. Catriona Matthew of Scotland played 36 holes (68-70) and was at 210.

Annika Sorenstam, who has dominated women’s golf this year with five victories, a major title and a 59, is a longshot to duplicate her winning Open performance at Pine Needles in 1996. She was 11 strokes back after a 72-73.

“I’m very disappointed,” she said.