Sorenstam ends 2005 in dominant fashion at ADT
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2005 ADT Championship | Wrap | 21 Nov 2005
Annika Sorenstam made it ten wins for season 2005 when she recorded a final round of three under 69 to successfully defend the ADT Tour Championship in Florida by two shots from Michelle Redman, Soo-Yun Kang and Lisolette Neumann. The victory takes Sorenstam’s earnings in 2005 to $2,590,000, admittedly short of her amazing 2002 where she won US$2,863,000 and eleven titles, but a year that has once again stamped her as the most dominant golfer in the game.
The final round, which initially appeared threatened by weather, was completed after Sorenstam had taken a narrow one shot lead over Marissa Baena and Liselotte Neumann into day four. Despite birdies at the third and fifth, Sorenstam was actually headed early in the day by a fast start from fellow Swede, Neumann, who with birdies at the second, third and fourth holes, she hit the front. Sorenstam drew level again at the fifth when she birdied the par three. They were still level at the turn after bogeys by Sorenstam at the 8th and by Neumann at the 9th.
Playing two groups ahead was Soo-Yun Kang the 29-year-old Korean, who won for the first time earlier this season at the Safeway Classic but who was posing a real threat to those behind. When she birdied the 11th to move to four under for the day, and for the tournament, she had drawn level with Sorenstam and two ahead of Neumann, who had just double bogeyed the 10th.
In the group ahead of Kang was tour veteran Michelle Redman, who was working her way into contention with birdies at the 1st, 6th and 12th. Sorenstam responded with a birdie at the 11th which saw her move one ahead of Kang before a bogey by the Korean at the 13th saw the cushion build to two. After three dropped shots in two holes, Neumann matched Sorenstam’s birdie at the 11th to begin a comeback of her own and she would go on to add two further birdies before a costly bogey at the last saw her finish at four under and in a share of second with Kang and Redman. Redman’s final birdie came at the 16th to move within one of Sorenstam but the Swede played mistake free golf over the last few holes when she needed to most and when she added a birdie at the 16th it was all but over.
Kang would birdie the 15th to join those at four under and her second place finish further confirmed her best season on the LPGA Tour. In just her third full season, Kang looks destined for a promising time in the years ahead.
Catriona Matthew had yet another good week in 2005 when fifth with Lorie Kane, Paula Creamer and Hee Won Han finishing in a share of 6th.
For Sorenstam though it would be the ninth consecutive occasion when she has taken a lead into the final round and won. Her grip on the crown of women’s golf has been threatened on occasions this year by the likes of Paula Creamer and to a lesser extent Cristie Kerr but like the champion she is, she has responded in the way that means the most – on the golf course. She has again headed the money list by more than $1 million and when it is considered she has only played twenty events this season compared to her nearest rival’s twenty five, her strike rate is exceptional.
When the various LPGA Tours of the world introduce a world ranking system in 2006 it would seem that the number one title is Sorenstam’s as long as she wants it to be because surely only desire – or lack of it – can stop her.
