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Annika Pleased to be Finished
Hold those earlier thoughts. As so often happens in this part of the world, the wind has switched. Downwind first thing this morning, the front nine is now playing into the prevailing westerly wind, a fact that will not please the later starters one little bit. It isn't that the course is any harder or easier in that wind, but the fact that those with early tee-times will have played almost the whole course downwind.
One who just missed out on the benefits of that change in wind direction was Annika Sorenstam, whose 71 has her on 143, three under par. The world number three — that still sounds strange — did, however, get to play her first seven holes in what was almost a flat calm before the wind kicked up into her face coming home.
I'm very happy with my position and my play," she claimed."It was nice to get out early and beat the wind to an extent. And the greens were nice and smooth, too."
The Swede — who acknowledged the benefit she is getting from using Tiger Woods' yardage book — is probably right to like where she stands. With the wind kicking up nicely and the first round leader. Lorena Ochoa, out later, the likelihood is that three under par will not be too far off the top of the leaderboard by day's end.
Not that Sorenstam was going to be sitting around doing nothing exactly. After a quick lunch and some practice, she was off to the all-female St. Rule club that makes its home on the right side of the 18th fairway to receive honourary membership. "A great honour," she said.
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