Sorenstam reconfirms status at top of game
IN: News | LPGA | US Women's Open (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 04 Jul 2006
Just ten minutes into the playoff between Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst for the 2006 US Women's Open, it became clear that this would be Sorenstam's day.
An opening birdie at the par five first by the Swede had her shots two up immediately when her opponent struggled to reach the green in three and took three more to get down. When she added a second birdie at the third, Sorenstam had moved three ahead and the issue was put almost beyond doubt when, despite a bogey at the sixth, she increased her lead to four.
To her credit, Hurst had lost no further ground to Sorentsam at the completion of the remaining twelve holes but to a large extent the 37-year-old had run her race over what had been the previous four demanding days. She would talk later of her ordinary putting display in the playoff but clearly she was feeling the impact of having to go the extra day.
"I wish we would have played last night," Hurst told the assembled press after then playoff. "The competitive juices weren't flowing as much as they were yesterday, even though we did play 36, and to play a three or six hole sudden death type of deal, I think that would have been better. We would have had more people out, and it wouldn't have taken a toll on us. Playing 18, 36 and another 18 right behind it, it makes it tough out there."
Hurst has a point. It seems time for the USGA to consider the option of a four hole cumulative playoff. From every perspective it makes sense and in tournaments where such playoffs are still implemented they have a tendency to fall flat. The drama of a final day limited playoff would have a far greater impact.
For Sorenstam it ended a ten year wait since her previous US Women's Open title. It also ended, temporarily at least, any speculation regarding her vulnerability against the wave of new young players who had been challenging her place at the top of the Women's game in 2006.
"It doesn't get much better than this. It's been a long and tough week. You know, they say that the big championships you've really got to earn, and I felt like I worked really, really hard this week to earn this. Pat played really well, and when you have to go into a playoff like this, really anything can happen," she told the media conference later.
"I wanted to approach it like it was any other week, which is easier said than done. But, you know, I've won tournaments before, and I was just thinking, you know, let's pretend it's not the Open. Let's just come and play your own game and not think too much about the consequences of this championship, just go out there and enjoy yourself and hit the shots that you know you can and enjoy the course and all that good stuff and not think too much about the championship."
"Throughout the week I was talking to myself. It must have looked funny, but I said, "Just have fun, hit some shots, don't worry about it. Just hit the shots you need to and hit the fairways, hit the greens." I just kept saying that over and over again just to keep my mind focused on what I had to do."
This is the tenth major for Sorenstam and her 68th USLPGA career title. At the age of 35 and in the peak of fitness she appears set for many more perhaps only limited by her desire or otherwise.
There is little let up for the two protagonists in today's showdown. They will both head south to play the HSBC match Play Championship starting in New Jersey on Thursday.
Photo - WireImage
