Sorenstam Moves Halfway to History

Halfway home to the Grand Slam, miles ahead of everyone else, Annika Sorenstam could hardly wait to take care of a most pressing matter Sunday after winning the LPGA Championship.

Tiger Woods had sent her a text message in April after he won the Masters to remind her that it was his ninth major championship, one more than Sorenstam had won. Her three-shot victory Sunday over Michelle Wie allowed her to catch him.

“I’m going to text him right now,” she said, walking away with a gleam in her eye. “Nine.”

Sorenstam became the first LPGA Tour player in 19 years to win the first two majors.

By the turn here at Bulle Rock Golf Club, she had an eight-shot lead. Bogeys on the last two holes gave her a one-over 73 and made the margin seem closer than it was.

“I’m just glad it’s over and that I won,” she said.

Her first Grand Slam title of the year came with an eight-shot victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March. This one was just as dominant. Sorenstam took the lead on the 16th hole of the second round and poured it on from there.

Next stop: the U.S. Women’s Open in two weeks at Cherry Hills.

Her only competition in the final round came from 15-year-old Wie, who had come under scrutiny when the McDonald’s LPGA Championship changed its criteria and allowed her to become the first amateur in the 51-year history of this event. She showed she belonged, giving the crowd a show Sunday with a three-under 69 to finish second.

It was the highest finish by an amateur in a major championship since 20-year-old Jenny Chuasiriporn lost in a playoff to Se Ri Pak in the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open.

“I was trying to make it a run for her money,” said Wie, who missed out on $164,385 because she’s an amateur. “I don’t want to prove anything to anyone. I was really happy to be here, and I felt like I finished really strong.”

Sorenstam was stronger, joining Patty Berg as the only female players to win the same major three consecutive years. Berg won the Titleholders from 1937 through 1939.

The Swede finished at 11-under 277 and earned $270,000, moving her past $17 million for her career. She won for the sixth time in eight starts this year and took the 62nd title of her career.

“I do have to pinch myself sometimes when I look at my results,” Sorenstam said. “I feel like I’m just a little girl from Sweden that came over here to follow my dreams and hope to win a few golf tournaments. When I look at my bio in the LPGA book, I get overwhelmed.”

Paula Creamer, an 18-year- old who just graduated from high school, had a 67 and tied for third at 282 with Laura Davies.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Nearly flawless

Annika Sorenstam has earned $1,503,238 on the LPGA Tour this season. Her average scores in eight tournaments:

*--* Tournament Place Avg MasterCard Classic 1st 69.7 Safeway International 1st 69.3 Kraft Nabisco Champ. 1st 68.3 Michelob Ultra Open 12T 71.5 Chick-fil-A Charity Champ. 1st 66.3 LPGA Corning Classic 2T 68.8 Shop-Rite LPGA Classic 1st 65.3 McDonald’s LPGA Champ. 1st 69.3

*--*