Golf

Sorenstam's 8 birdies golden

HUIXQUILUCAN, Mexico - Annika Sorenstam rallied from three back to win her first LPGA Tour event of the year, shooting 4-under 68 in windy conditions Sunday for a three-stroke victory in the inaugural MasterCard Classic.

Sorenstam had eight birdies - five in a row on Nos. 2-6 - to offset four bogeys on the high-altitude Bosque Real Country Club course.

The Swedish golfer, also playing for the first time since filing for divorce from David Esch, won her 57th LPGA Tour title, finishing at 7-under 209. Last year, she won eight tour events and two international titles.

"I'm looking forward to the rest of the season," Sorenstam said. "I wanted everybody to know that I'm ready to play and ready to go."

Karrie Webb, the ANZ Women's Masters winner Feb. 26 in Australia, shot 70 to finish second. Cristie Kerr, the second-round leader by two, shot 75 to match South Korea's Hee-Won Han (71) at 3 under, and Mexico's Lorena Ochoa (68) rallied to finish fifth at 2 under. Rookie Paula Creamer (68) and Michelle Redman (72) were 1 under.

After the five straight birdies, Sorenstam bogeyed three consecutive holes. On No. 9, she hit over the green and into a water hazard.

But she had little trouble turning things around, holing three birdies on the back nine for her 18th career comeback victory.

It was the first LPGA Tour event in Mexico since 1975.

EUROPEAN PGA: Ernie Els eagled the final hole to win the Dubai Desert Classic for the third time. He beat Miguel Angel Jimenez, who had led most of the United Arab Emirates tournament, by one stroke. Els shot 4-under 68 and finished 19-under 269 for his first title of 2005. He also won in Dubai in 1994 and 2002. Jimenez reached the green in two on the par-5 18th but settled for par. The Spaniard missed a birdie putt from 10 feet and shared second with Stephen Dodd of Wales, who shot 66-270.

[Last modified March 7, 2005, 01:58:12]