It’s Not Easy, but It’s Still Sorenstam

The longest Sunday in 14 years at a major championship had just about everything for Annika Sorenstam -- utter dominance, a brief collapse, a dramatic shot from the wrong fairway and ultimately another major title.

Sorenstam blew away the field over the first 18 holes with a seven-under-par 64 to build a six-shot lead, then survived a four-hole meltdown and a late charge by Shi Hyun Ahn to win the LPGA Championship for the second consecutive year.

A bogey from the bunker on the final hole at DuPont Country Club gave her a one-over 72, only her second round over par this year and the same final-round score she had a year ago. All that mattered was the trophy she received after the three-shot victory.

“This one feels great,” Sorenstam said. “I played really well in the morning, but for some reason it started to slip away. Obviously, I’m very glad I turned it around.”

Sorenstam joined Mickey Wright as the only players to successfully defend in three majors. Wright won all four majors back to back, and Sorenstam could match that with a victory this year in the Women’s British Open.

Only the final margin made it look easy.

Sorenstam’s seventh major championship, and fourth victory this year, wasn’t secure until she missed the 16th fairway so far left that she played down the 11th fairway. With a blind shot from 94 yards over the trees, she hit wedge into three feet for a birdie that allowed her to breathe easy the final two holes.

She finished at 13-under 271 and earned $240,000, pushing her past $1 million for the year and reminding the women who’s the boss on the LPGA Tour.

Grace Park has been her latest challenger after winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Park had a fleeting chance to win the second leg of the Grand Slam, getting within three shots late in the round until Sorenstam pulled away. Park closed with a 68 to finish third at 276.

Ahn twice got within two shots on the back nine. She closed with a 66 and finished at 274.

Sorenstam had a seven-shot lead when she knocked down the flag on the par-three eighth and tapped in for birdie to go to 14 under par. The only drama remaining was whether she could set the 72-hole record of 16-under 268.

Everything changed with one shot.

With a wedge in her hand on the par-five ninth, Sorenstam attacked the back pin and went long into deep rough, leaving her a delicate chip with the green sloping severely away from her. She compounded her error by getting too cute with the shot and leaving it in the rough, and wound up missing a six-footer to take double bogey.

She hit four-wood off the tee into the right rough on No. 10 and could not reach the green. A meager chip left her 10 feet short, and she missed that one to make bogey. Then, she hit a weak wedge to the fringe and three-putted for another bogey, missing from three feet.

Suddenly, her lead was down to two shots with seven holes to play, but she recovered in time for another major title.