Sorenstam aims for fourth straight Mizuno Classic

BY iseekgolf.com | LPGA Tour | 2004 Mizuno Classic | Preview | 03 Nov 2004

With President George W. Bush asking for four more years in the White House and senator John Kerry campaigning for his first four, Annika Sorenstam is only looking for one more, as in one more win at the Mizuno Classic.

The most dominate golfer in the world needs a win this week to put the finishing touches on a four-year Mizuno Classic campaign worthy of the history books.

Sorenstam is the three-time defending champion of the $1 million event and makes her case this week for a four-peat. In fact, long-hitting Laura Davies is the only player to do it, as she made the Standard Register PING her own personal standard from 1994-97.

It is hard to argue that there has been a tournament where Sorenstam has been more perfect than the Mizuno Classic. Her three previous wins have all been multiple-shot victories, which includes a nine-stroke thumping last year. Over the last nine rounds at the 54-hole event, the Super Swede’s final-round 70 in 2001 ranks as her highest score.

Some of Sorenstam’s stats during her Mizuno win streak are hard to fathom considering her margin of victory is a jaw-dropping 4.67 shots, while her stroke average is 66.22.

Sorenstam has made the Mizuno Classic her personal playground the last three years, but history suggests a change may be in order. In 54 years, the LPGA has yielded only nine back-to-back-to-back winners at the same event, and only Davies went on to complete the four-peat.

Even Sorenstam has been on the wrong side of history when it comes to four straight wins. The 54-time champion won the Michelob Light Classic from 1997-99, but was foiled in 2000 with a tie for 17th.

This year, Sorenstam successfully defended the Office Depot Championship Hosted by Amy Alcott and the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola setting up two three-peat attempts for 2005. She failed in the same quest this year at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic and the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi.

Last year, Sorenstam carded rounds of 63-63-66 to finish at 192 (-24) to set LPGA records for the lowest 54-hole score and the lowest 54-hole winning score. Se Ri Pak, Grace Park and Sophie Gustafson tied for second at 201 (-15).

Players who have won the same tournament three consecutive times or more:

Four (LPGA record):

• Laura Davies, Standard Register PING, 1994-97

Three:

• Patty Berg, World Championship, 1953-55
• Betsy Rawls, Tampa Open, 1956-58
• Louise Suggs, Dallas Civitan Open, 1959-61
• Kathy Whitworth, Orange Blossom Classic, 1968-70
• Sandra Haynie, Charity Golf Classic, 1973-75
• Annika Sorenstam, Michelob Light Classic, 1997-99
• Karrie Webb, Australian Ladies Masters, 1998-2000*
• Annika Sorenstam, Mizuno Classic, 2001-03

*Webb won the Australian Ladies Masters for the fourth-consecutive time in 2001, but the event was no longer on the LPGA schedule.

Source – LPGA