Golf

Sorenstam: a tough week, but I'll learn from it

By BOB HARIG
Published June 27, 2005

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo.- Annika Sorenstam can seemingly dominate any golf course. But Cherry Hills Country Club, in retrospect, did not play to her strengths.

Despite more than 6,700 yards, the course played short, meaning she rarely hit drivers off the tee. But her legendary accuracy was also a problem, resulting in a disappointing week, when Sorenstam had hoped to add the third leg of the Grand Slam.

Instead, she finished in a tie for 23rd, nine strokes behind winner Birdie Kim . She also shot three rounds over par in the same 72-hole tournament for the first time since the 2001 U.S. Women's Open.

"My game didn't really turn out the way I wanted to, definitely not the score," said Sorenstam, who shot 77 on Sunday.

"I am disappointed about that. But it was a tough week, a tough championship, but you always learn something. I am sure I will look back at this week and bring something good out of it."

Although Sorenstam won back-to-back U.S. Women's Opens in 1995-96, the championship has proved to be her toughest since then. She has twice missed the cut and twice finished outside of the top 20.

"When you want something really badly, it means a lot," Sorenstam said. "It makes me appreciate that I have won two. Not a lot of people get even a chance to win one, so I am thankful for those two."

AMATEUR RUNNERSUP: The day began with amateurs Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie tied for the lead. It ended with Pressel and Brittany Lang tied for second. While Wie fell back with an 82, Lang nearly stole the tournament with one of the best rounds of the day, an even-par 71 that included a bogey at the 18th hole. Lang, who tied for third in the recent NCAA championships and helped Duke win the national title, plans to turn pro later this summer.

She might have learned, however, to study the leaderboard. She did not realize what was at stake when she bogeyed the last hole.

"It was just a golf shot to me," she said. "I had no idea. I looked at the leaderboard on the back side just to see if my name was anywhere up there and it was up there. That's all I needed to know."

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS: Seminole's Brittany Lincicome ended the tournament on a strong note, shooting an even-par 71 that included one birdie, one bogey and 16 pars. It was one of just five scores at par or better. Lori Kane had the low round of the day, a 69. Lincicome tied for 31st and earned $23,479. There was some bad news, however. Lincicome was an alternate for this week's Match Play event in New Jersey and would have gotten in had someone already in the field won the Open. But Kim was not in the tournament, so she takes the spot.

AROUND CHERRY HILLS: Because Lang and Pressel are amateurs, they each missed out on $272,723. That is how much money they would have won for sharing second place. For prize money distribution, the amateurs in the field are ignored, so that money went to Lorrie Kane and Natalie Gulbis, who tied for fourth. ... Although Paula Creamer struggled, shooting 79, she still tied for 19th and earned a return trip to the Open. The top 20 qualify, meaning both Lang and Pressel will be back.

[Last modified June 27, 2005, 01:05:15]