Sorenstam wins Williams title
LPGA Tour standout grabs ninth worldwide victory
TULSA, OKLA. ? Annika Sorenstam said this might be her best season. That’s saying something.
Sorenstam won her seventh LPGA Tour title of the year and ninth worldwide event Sunday, closing with a 5-under 65 for a four-stroke victory in the Williams Championship.
“This is shaping up to be my best season probably,” said Sorenstam, the 31-year-old Swedish star who won eight tour titles last year and has 39 victories in nine seasons.
Using a new cross-handed putting grip, Sorenstam birdied four of the last six holes to easily hold off Canadian Lorie Kane with an 11-under 199 total on the Tulsa Country Club course.
“I’m thrilled with the way I played today,” said Sorenstam, playing her first event since winning the Compaq Open in Sweden on Aug. 18. “I made a few mistakes but I bounced back quickly.”
Sorenstam earned $150,000 to push her season total to $2,061,991 with eight money events remaining. She set the LPGA Tour record last year with $2,105,868, becoming the first player in tour history to top $2 million.
Kane, playing in the final group with Sorenstam, closed with a 68 to finish second. Kane had 16 pars in a bogey-free round.
“I still think I could have won if I put some pressure on Annika early on,” Kane said, saying she blew birdie opportunities on the first two holes. “But I’m happy with the way I finished.
“Anytime you can play a final round on Sunday contending with the No. 1 player in the world, you’re doing things right.”
U.S. Solheim Cup player Cristie Kerr (69) and Australia’s Joanne Mills (67) tied for third at 204.