Sorenstam Survives The Open Swede Withstands Shaky Finish To Capture U.S. Women’s Open

Two days earlier, Annika Sorenstam said she found pressure situations fun.

She would like to amend that comment.

Sorenstam, a Swede who maintains a home in Phoenix, ran off three consecutive birdies and then survived a shaky finish Sunday to capture the 50th U.S. Women’s Open, the most prestigious title in women’s golf, for her first victory on the LPGA tour.

“It was fun for a while, but it got out of hand,” she said. “I’ve been nervous before but never that nervous. On the back nine, I felt like my nerves were swinging, not me.”

Sorenstam, capitalizing on a triple-bogey at the fourth hole by third-round leader Meg Mallon, closed with a 2-under-par 68 for a 278 total on the mountainous Broadmoor East course.

“It’s like a dream,” Sorenstam said. “I’ve thought about winning something like this over the last few years, but I never thought it could happen to me.”

Nearly undone by bogeys at Nos. 15 and 16, Sorenstam finished one shot ahead of Mallon.

Sorenstam’s birdies at Nos. 9-11 put her two shots in front, a lead she extended to three strokes, helping to offset her late fade.

“I was five shots out starting the day,” Sorenstam said. “I went off today with the attitude that I had nothing to lose.

“I struck the ball much better today, actually the best of the four days. But my nerves were getting to me. My hands were shaking on the putter and on all the shots on the back nine.”

Sorenstam, who played at the University of Arizona, was the 1991 NCAA champion and the 1992 World Amateur champion. Failing in her first attempt at tour qualifying school, she nonetheless won $47,000 in three LPGA events in 1993, earning her tour card late that season.

She was the LPGA’s rookie of the year in 1994 and had three second-place finishes over the last two seasons but never a tour victory until Sunday. She won two tournaments this summer in Europe.

Mallon had a chance to tie at No. 18 but missed a 20-foot birdie putt. Her 74 gave her a 279 total. Betsy King and Pat Bradley were at even-par 280.

“I can’t remember the last time I made a triple, but that’s the Open,” Mallon said. “I knew if I did it early, I could still get back.”

Mallon began the day at 5-under and with a two-shot lead over Julie Larsen. After Larsen bogeyed her first two holes, the margin was four shots.

Not for long. On the par-4 third hole, Mallon hit her approach into trees left of the green and had to scramble for a bogey.

Then came big trouble at the fourth hole, a 139-yarder with a pond fronting the green. Mallon’s shot was short, hitting the bank and trickling into the water. She made a triple-bogey 6. Suddenly, five players shared the lead at 1-under - Mallon, Larsen, Sorenstam, Bradley and King.

King, eight shots off the lead to start the final round, was surging, with birdies on four of her first five holes to get to 1-under.

Mallon regrouped, however, and knocked in a 12-foot birdie putt at No. 6 to reclaim sole possession of the lead.

In an instant, she gave it back. Sorenstam birdied the par-5 ninth, momentarily tying Mallon at 2-under. Mallon, meanwhile, was bunkered at No. 8. When she missed the par-saving putt, Sorenstam was alone as the leader.

Sorenstam then birdied the next hole with an 11-foot putt. But her lead remained at one shot when Mallon birdied the ninth.

Sorenstam made it three in a row, hitting a wedge from the rough to 7 feet at No. 11 for a two-shot cushion.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LEADERBOARD Final results of the U.S. Women’s Open Annika Sorenstam 67-71-72-68-278 Meg Mallon 70-69-66-74-279 Betsy King 72-69-72-67-280 Pat Bradley 67-71-72-70-280