Sorenstam looking for hat-trick in Tulsa
IN: News | LPGA | John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic (2006) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 07 Sep 2006
Annika Sorentsam is looking to extend her winning record at the John Q Hammonds Hotels this week and extend her own recent winning record when she takes to the fairways of the Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A winner of this event in 2002, 2004 and 2005, Sorentsam arrives in Tulsa fresh from a remarkable last round charge in Illinois last week where she swept past those ahead of her leading into the final round with a 62 to win by two over Cristie Kerr. The victory came just two weeks after her win over Lorena Ochoa in Sweden.
Twelve months ago Sorentsam perhaps surprisingly nearly handed the event to Paul Creamer after two late bogeys saw her win by just one. Creamer had produced a fine last round on a tough and demanding golf course to all but catch the Swede.
The Joe Finger designed Cedar Ridge Country Club previously hosted the US Women's Open in 1983 but became the venue for this event in 2004 after the event had been held at the Tulsa Country Club for three years. Lorena Ochoa, who will be one of the favourites this year, behind Sorenstam, has not played this course previously but was convinced to come here because of the reputation that the course has developed with her fellow professionals. "It is more like a US Open course," she said on Wednesday referring to the tight fairways and penalising rough.
Sorenstam, Ochoa, Kerr and Creamer are the leading players in the field but there are several others with chances. Maria Hjorth played well in this event in 2005 before a last round struggle. She eventually finished fourth but when finishing third at last week's Sate Farm Classic she showed she is ready for another big week in Tulsa.
Perhaps surprisingly Karrie Webb is not playing this week. As a previous winner of this event, although not at this particular venue, it is unusual for her not to be in the field. With no event next week on the LPGA Tour, Webb will not have played for a month by the time she returns to competitive golf and will no doubt be rearing to go.
Lindsey Wright, Rachel Hetherington, Michelle Ellis, Nadina Light, Wendy Doolan, Shani Waugh and Katherine Hull will fly the flag for the Australians this week.
