Annika does it again at Safeway International
IN: News | LPGA | Safeway International (2004) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 22 Mar 2004
Just three weeks after winning the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia by a similar margin, Annika Sorenstam has chalked up her second win of the season by taking out the Safeway International by Coca Cola by four shots.
In her first LPGA Start of 2004 (she sat out last week's Welch's Fry's event in Tucson) the 33-year-old served notice that while there may be a lot of hot rookies on tour in 2004, things at the other end of the experience scale were not going to change much.
After trailing Kim Saiki in round one by three, Sorenstam was quickly into the position she relates to most when her second round 65 had her in the lead, a point from where she would never be headed.
This was Sorenstam's second win in the event and her 49th win on the LPGA Tour.
This week it was the 26-year-old from Florida, Christie Kerr, who chased her all the way. Kerr who has just the one victory on the LPGA Tour in her five year career started the last round with two consecutive bogeys, not exactly what you need when chasing down the greatest player in women's golf and with a three shot deficit heading into the final round.
Kerr came back in the latter stage of her round to edge ahead of Lorena Ochoa and Se Ri Pak who perhaps surprisingly made a terrible start in pursuit of Sorenstam in round four. The defending champion was out in 40 today and it was left to Grace Park's strong finish to fly the Korean flag this week when she finished in third place behind Sorenstam and Kerr sharing that spot with Lorena Ochoa. Ochoa must surely win her first LPGA event soon after such a brilliant year in 2003 when she finished 9th in her rookie season.
For the second week in a row, rookie Shi Hyun Ahn finished fifth serving notice to all that she too will be winning with a little more experience under her belt.
As the LPGA Tour moves to Californian for the Kraft Nabsico Championship, the first major of the LPGA year, there continues to be the question as to just how they are going to beat Sorenstam. Already a two time winner of the Nabisco, Sorenstam appears at the top of her game already this season and the event sees her attempting the first leg of what she hopes will be a grand slam in the majors this year. She has already indicated that as a goal and who would suggest she won't do it?
Se Ri Pak, Laura Davies, Grace Park and others may have different ideas, but it is hard to see her beaten.
The Australians disappointed this week with Rachel Teske 36th, Karrie Webb 43rd, Wendy Doolan 63rd, Joanne Mills 68th and Karen Pearce 74th.
