Editors' Blog Blogger Bio
Sorenstam perseveres
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.--There was a time during Saturday's third round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship that Annika Sorenstam didn't know whether she'd be able to play on. Bothered by a stomach bug, only a string of birdies prevented her from walking off the course and going home early.
Sorenstam not only played on, but she fired the second-lowest round of the day on Sunday, a 4-under-par 68, to finish in a second-place tie with Suzann Pettersen, five shots back of Lorena Ochoa. For awhile, it looked like Sorenstam might even challenge Ochoa for the lead, after birdies on holes 7 and 8 moved her to 5-under par, just three shots back. But she missed a 12-foot birdie opportunity on No. 9 and Ochoa birdied holes 8, 9 and 10 to pull away.
"I'm glad I finished," said Sorenstam. "I'm pleased to come back and fight the way I did and I'm going to remember this round for many reasons. You know, try and take the positive out of this and move on. I gave what I had, that's all I could have asked for. I just have to make sure that I'm 100 percent in all four rounds next time."
Sorenstam started to feel better on Sunday morning as soon as she walked inside the ropes and the adrenaline got flowing. A birdie on the second hole lifted her spirits even more, but she was unable to make up for Saturday's 73 and catch Ochoa, who denied Sorenstam's bid for an 11th major title.
"I'm not really sure one more round would be enough," Sorenstam said. "Lorena is really playing solid. She's just moving forward and forward every round and she's not giving any back."
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