Just being on the same golf course as Annika Sorenstam is enough to intimidate most LPGA golfers. Calendar-girl Natalie Gulbis didn’t feel that pressure today even though she played alongside of Sorenstam showing confidence as she birdied her five closing holes to grab a share of the lead at 5-under par 67.
Gulbis commented on the change of venue from the DuPont Country Club where the ladies contended for eleven years to this new shot-maker’s course. “My caddie and I thought 8-under would win this,” Gulbis said. “I thought pretty much anything under par would be a really good round.”
Although tied with Sorenstam walking to the final hole, Gulbis’ closing 18-foot clutch putt placed her at the top of the leaderboard with heavy hitter Laura Davies and Laura Diaz. Sorenstam finished one-stroke off the lead with a 4-under par 68 and is very much in contention as the race to win the second major championship of the year gets underway at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Maryland.
Although the women were sweltering in the heat of the day and stormy weather conditions stopped play for almost an hour, birdies flew around the golf course creating an exciting round for many of the golfers. The action at the course translated into twenty-nine players breaking par and forty-five players at par or better.
Laura Davies, the LPGA’s answer to PGA pro John Daly, attacked the par-5’s effortlessly almost reaching the 11th hole, a 596-yard par-5, in two shots using her driver as her tee shot and approach club. “I just wanted to see if I could get there,” said Davies.
The 42-year old British import bogeyed only once early but created a triple threat on the 6th through 8th with three consecutive birdies and enjoyed three more birdies at the 11th, 15th and 18th holes. Davies has visions of entering the Hall-of-Fame and has the opportunity to do so with a win at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship this week.
With only two bogeys and strings of birdies from the 6th through the 8th and again from the 13th through the 15th holes, Laura Diaz entered the clubhouse alongside of Gulbis and Davies.
Annika Sorenstam had a bogey-free round of 68 and added another tour record to her swelling numbers by posting her twelfth consecutive round in the 60’s. Even though Annika was happy with her score today she understands that patience is of utmost importance to grab the trophy on Sunday.
“Today is probably ten-percent of the whole tournament,” Sorenstam said. “It’s such a long way to go. I’ve got to be patient. If you prepare for months and months and set high goals, the last thing to do is come to a tournament and get in my own way. That would ruin it for myself.”
Rookie Paula Creamer, fresh from her high school graduation and her first LPGA Tour victory at the Sybase Classic, tuned into her irons today and never had to make a putt longer than six feet. Creamer is currently tied with Annika Sorenstam with a 4-under par 68.
Michelle Wie had a bit of indigestion causing her front nine to be less than glamorous. However, “queasy Wiesy” settled her stomach during the rain delay and tore up the back nine with a score of 32 to tie with two 28-year old tour pro’s, Angela Stanford and Mi Hyun Kim at 3-under par 69.
In perspective, only one stroke currently separates the greatest female golfer in the world and a teenage amateur. Pretty impressive golf for a 15-year old high-schooler with braces.
Pos Player Today R1 T1 Natalie Gulbis -5 67 T1 Laura Diaz -5 67 T1 Laura Davies -5 67 T4 Annika Sorenstam -4 68 T4 Paula Creamer -4 68 T4 Sung Ah Yim -4 68 T4 Tina Fischer -4 68 T8 Angela Stanford -3 69 T8 Mi Hyun Kim -3 69 T8 Michelle Wie -3 69
Watch Sorenstam, Wie, and the terrific tour pros battle it out this week! Second-round action plays out on The Golf Channel, June 10th, 4:00-6:00pm ET. The excitement then switches to CBS on June 11th 3:30-6:00pm and 12th 3:00-6:00pm ET.