Sorenstam Prevails in Safeway Playoff

Although Lorena Ochoa led from round one, she was no match for defending champion Annika Sorenstam. Four strokes ahead with three holes to play, the pressure got to Ochoa. She wound up double-bogeying the 16th hole with a three-putt and dropped another shot at 17. Annika Sorenstam birdied the 18th while Ochoa struggled to a par and a final-round 74.

Hitting her trusty 4-wood to the par-5 18th, Sorenstam landed the shot on the green for an eagle opportunity. “Carrying 217, with the wind here, it was on the edge. I had to take a chance, I really did, and I think it just carried by inches,” said Annika of her approach. She two-putted for birdie and forced a playoff that would last only one hole.

Playing the par-5 18th once again, Ochoa was the first to tee off. She promptly drowned her ball in the water. After taking her drop, Ochoa flew her next shot into the rough, followed that with a pitch over the green and a missed par chip. Annika pitched her third shot to 7 feet and two putted for par. Said Sorenstam of her victory, “I’ve learned over the years never to give up.”

“So, you know, I give away the tournament. Annika beat me,” stated a dejected Ochoa, “You know, she give me a good chance to win the tournament, and I just made, you know, really big mistakes at the end. And I’m going to try to – I’m pretty upset, but I’m going to try not to be too hard on myself. I’m going to try to learn from this, and, you know, Annika is the best player in the world, and hopefully I come back next week.”

Annika’s victory – her 58th on the LPGA Tour – also marks the 19th time she’s come from behind to win in the final round. Her final winning score of -11 bested the next best set of players – Juli Inkster and Soo-Yun Kang, by three. Further back, Liselotte Neumann and Rosie Jones finished at -7. Amateur Michelle Wie tied for 12th after shooting a final-round 71. Annika Sorenstam has won six of the last eight LPGA Tour events in which she’s played.

Pos   Player              Tot    R1    R2    R3    R4    Tot
T1*   Annika Sorenstam    -11    66    69    72    70    277
T1    Lorena Ochoa        -11    65    67    71    74    277
T3    Juli Inkster         -8    66    73    69    72    280
T3    Soo-Yun Kang         -8    68    66    70    76    280
T5    Liselotte Neumann    -7    70    70    70    71    281
T5    Rosie Jones          -7    74    71    64    72    281
 7    Michele Redman       -6    75    72    68    67    282
T8    Natalie Gulbis       -5    69    76    70    68    283
T8    Laura Diaz           -5    73    67    74    69    283
T8    Gloria Park          -5    72    69    70    72    283
T8    Candie Kung          -5    69    70    72    72    283
T12   Jennifer Rosales     -4    72    73    69    70    284
T12   Michelle Wie (a)     -4    73    67    73    71    284
T12   Siew-Ai Lim          -4    65    72    73    74    284
T15   Malinda Johnson      -3    72    75    70    68    285
T15   Silvia Cavalleri     -3    72    70    71    72    285
T15   Karen Stupples       -3    67    71    74    73    285
T18   Maria Hjorth         -2    73    74    73    66    286
T18   Cristie Kerr         -2    72    73    70    71    286
* Won on first playoff hole with par

Photo Credit: © AP.