Sorenstam back in contention in Evian
IN: News | LPGA | Evian Masters (2005) | Round Two | 22 Jul 2005
Annika Sorenstam was back in business today in the second round of the US$2.5million Evian Masters, at the Evian Masters GC.
The World number 1 proved she was human will a level par 72 in the opening round yesterday, but today, she fired a best of day six under par 66 to move into contention; a reminder to her rivals of her continuing dominance of the women's game.
The Swede finished two shots adrift of the two American leaders; the supremely talented 18-year-old rookie Paula Creamer, from Bradenton, Florida, who won her maiden professional victory this year at the Sybase Classic on the LPGA Tour, and 21-year-old American Christina Kim, from San Jose.
Both carded four under par 68 to take set the target to beat at eight under going into the third round tomorrow, with no cut being made at the tournament.
Laura Davies, a two-time winner of the title, in 1995 and 1996, shot a 70 to finish tied as the second best European, at five under par.
Davies shared fourth place with first round leader Carin Koch, from Sweden, who slipped back after a one over par 73.
Other Europeans in the mix included Karine Icher from France, Sophie Sandolo from Italy and Sweden's Maria Hjorth, who all finished tied for eighth at three under par.
Sorenstam, who has won this tournament twice, in 2000 and 2002, began with a birdie at the par-four first hole, where she hit nine-iron to seven feet, she then fired a further three straight birdies on 7 8, and 9, before her only mistake, at the par-four 10th, where she hit a her approach with a pitching wedge into the greenside trap and two putted from five feet.
"That was one of the mistakes I made today. I actually thought the wind was helping and when you are in between clubs I thought the wind was going to help and I would be fine. I threw up some grass after that and it was into the wind, so that was an error there, but I thought it was the right club at the right time," she said.
A further three birdies at 14, 16 and 18 gave her the club house lead and a score much more her style.
"Yesterday, I couldn't feel comfortable over the putter. I thought the greens were very bumpy. Today, I had a tee time about an hour and 15 minutes earlier. The conditions were a lot better, less people walking around on the greens. I think that was important for me because I started to roll in some putts," she said.
For her low round of the day, Annika receives a kilogram of gold from the one of the tournament sponsors, Swiss bank UBS.
Source - LET
