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By BOB HARIG
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 4, 2001
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. -- Annika Sorenstam was an overwhelming pre-tournament favorite, having won five times this year heading into the U.S. Women's Open.
But since her last Open title, which was here at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Sorenstam has not had much success at the most prestigious tournament in women's golf. That trend continued Sunday.
With 2-over-par 72, Sorenstam has not shot in the 60s in an Open since her 1996 victory. Her rounds last week were 70-72-73-72 for 287, 7 over par.
"Usually, I'm very consistent," said Sorenstam, who finished tied for 16th, 14 shots behind winner Karrie Webb. "This week has been a roller coaster for me."
Sorenstam's best Open finish since '96 was a tie for ninth last year at The Merit Club.
"It's an awful feeling, especially at a championship like this," she said. "I had high expectations. This is not the outcome I wanted. I felt prepared coming into the event. I was playing well. The confidence was there. I don't know."
Sorenstam earned $46,885 to push her season-leading LPGA money total to $1,060,775.
NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT: Last year, Dottie Pepper withdrew after the first round of the U.S. Women's Open with a back injury. It's been a long road back, but Pepper believes good things are ahead. Although never in contention Sunday, Pepper finished with 69 for third place, her best finish at the Open. She earned $202,580.
"It's been 10 months of really hard work, but it's coming around," said Pepper, the former Sarasota resident who now lives in Jupiter. "It won't be long before it really jells and something big happens. I think my ball-striking has come a long way in the last four or five months. I'm not ready to say I've got it, but I'm very, very close."
Despite not winning a tournament this year, Pepper -- a 17-time tour winner -- is fourth on the money list behind Sorenstam, Webb and Se Ri Pak with $668,447.
"I kept grinding it out," she said. "I knew around par would be good. I passed 18 people shooting par (Saturday). The last five or six holes were pretty bloody. If you can play even par, you can pick off people."
BLUE DEVILS FIRST AGAIN: It's been quite a two-week period for Duke's Candy Hannemann. Last week, the 20-year-old junior won the NCAA individual women's title in a sudden-death playoff. On Sunday, her final-round 73 gave her 291, 11 over par, good for low amateur honors at the Open. She finished a shot ahead of Natalie Gulbis, who plays at Arizona.
FINE PINE: Few would quibble about the condition of Pine Needles. Even with more than two inches of rain Friday, the course looked and played beautifully. And it was difficult. Webb was the only player to break par. In 1996, two players broke par.
"It's just a true test of golf," said Lori Kane, who finished tied for seventh at 284. "The finishing holes are tough, but the whole back nine was a good pretty good challenge. If I was to design golf courses, this would be the way I would design them. It's tough to find land that is so prime like this."
"I like this golf course," said Janice Moody, who shot a final-round 76 to finish tied for 26th. "but I wouldn't want to play here every week. I would get really frustrated. Almost every shot on this course is dangerous."
COMING BACK: The United States Golf Association liked Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club so much, it couldn't wait to say it was coming back. The U.S. Women's Open will return in 2007. "We're simply delighted that the Women's Open is coming to Pine Needles for the third time," said Cora Jane Blanchard, chairman of the USGA Women's Committee.
An original design of legendary golf course architect Donald Ross, Pine Needles opened in 1928. It hosted the 1996 Open and was awarded the 2001 tournament immediately after the conclusion of play. With future sites announced this week, there was speculation Pine Needles might get the 2006 or 2007 tournament.
With the U.S. Open headed to nearby Pinehurst No. 2 in 2005, the USGA opted for the extra year in between.
"I think having two years separation is plenty of time," said Kelly Miller, chief operating officer of Pine Needles. "It will give the volunteers and all of the others involved a year to breathe."
Next year's tournament will be played July 4-7 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.. The 2003 championship will be at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif., followed by Pumpkin Ridge in North Plaines, Ore. (2004) and Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colo. (2005). The 2006 tournament has yet to be awarded.
TIGHTENING UP: There is a good chance a more strenuous qualifying process for the Open will be implemented, perhaps by next year. Unlike the men's Open, which has local 18-hole qualifying and sectional 36-hole qualifying, the women's tournament has only 18-hole sectional events.
One hot round and a player can be teeing it up in the U.S. Open. With less than 1,000 entries (the men have more than 8,000), local qualifying is not necessary. But a tougher test could be in order.
"I think the idea of a 36-hole test for qualifying to get into the largest, best national women's national championship is something that needs to be considered," said Kendra Graham, the USGA's director of women's competition.