Annika Sorenstam will defend her title this week at the 2005 Safeway International from Superstition Mountain, Arizona. This will be one of eight title defenses for Sorenstam who won her first tournament of 2005 at the Mastercard Classic Tournament. Sorenstam plays exceptionally well at this event. Last year, Annika boasted a four-shot win over Cristie Kerr. And, in 2001, Annika became the first woman to card a 59 during the second round of the tournament. Perhaps being a graduate of the University of Arizona makes her feel comfortable when she is playing at this event.
Cristie Kerr is among the players looking to dethrone Annika. Last week, Cristie tied for third place after leading through to the final round of the tournament. With a second place finish at the LPGA opener, the SBS Open at Turtle Bay, Kerr is only $18,000 short of first place on the 2005 ADT Official Money List.
Karrie Webb, recent winner of the Eurpoean Tour’s ANZ Ladies Masters, will also be participating this week at Superstition Mountain. Webb came in second to Sorenstam at the Mastercard Classic and appears confident in her game. She needs 10 starts in LPGA sponsored events to be considered an active member and to be chosen for induction into the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame. This is her third start of the season.
Paula Creamer, medalist at the LPGA Q-School and now a rookie on tour, has one final attempt to qualify for the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Just eighteen years old, Creamer is now in 10th place on the 2005 ADT Official Money List and needs to keep a top 15 position to qualify for the first major of the year.
Michelle Wie, the 15 year old amateur who played at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and more recently at the Evian Masters in France will also join in the action at the 2005 Safeway Tournament. Wie has already placed second this year at the SBS Open, tying with Cristie Kerr.
The purse is $1.4 million and will be covered exclusively by the Golf Channel, who recently extended their contract to cover the LPGA through 2009. On a time delay, the action begins Thursday, March 17th at 8:00 pm ET for four consecutive evenings.
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