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Sorenstam eyes season-ender bid

Annika Sorenstam has not played the LPGA Tournament of Champions in Alabama since 2002, but she is in Mobile this week out of necessity. It is her last chance to qualify for the season-ending ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, where a victory pays $1-million and could turn her worst year on the course into a decent one.

LPGA officials still are trying to sort out what she needs to qualify, although showing up in Mobile is a good start. Sorenstam is 14th on the second-half points list, and the top 13 qualify. No. 12 Sophie Gustafson and No. 13 Rachel Hetheringtonare not playing.

Even if she doesn't make it, she is 29th on the money list and could qualify as one of the two wild cards.

Sorenstam is playing for only the 12th time this year, having missed nearly two months with neck and back injuries in the spring. But thanks to a rule change last year, the Swede's eligibility on tour is not affected.

Players who elect international status, such as Sorenstam, must play at least 15 times on the LPGA Tour to keep their membership. That rule was to allow flexibility so players could compete on their home tours, mainly in Europe.

A change to the constitution in August 2006 waived the 15-event policy for those who have been in good standing for 10 straight years on the LPGA Tour. Sorenstam has played at least 17 events each year since her rookie season in 1994.

Others in the field limited to tournament winners from 2004-07 and active Hall of Famers include Juli Inkster, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Se Ri Pak and Morgan Pressel.

Pondering the PGA

Four tournaments during the Fall Series had a stronger field than the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., which counts as a FedEx Cup event and whose winner Brandt Snedeker got an automatic invitation to the Masters. ... The top 10 on the money list combined to win $50.4-million. ... One year after Australians won eight times, their only victories in 2007 came from Adam Scott and Aaron Baddeley.

Play with the pros

The Ginn Open, an April stop on the LPGA Tour, is saving one spot in the field for any female amateur or professional who qualifies. The 36-hole qualifier is scheduled for Jan. 5-6 at the Legacy and Independent courses at the Ginn Reunion Resort in Reunion. The top finisher earns an exemption into the tournament, which is April 14-20. The top two amateur finishers who don't earn the top spot get an exemption into the Monday qualifier on April 14. Applications must be submitted to the tournament office by Nov. 30. Those interested must contact Karen Dennison at (407) 396- 3219 or kdennison@ginnopen.com

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[Last modified November 8, 2007, 00:02:19]