Sorenstam still has shot
SUNNINGDALE, England — Annika Sorenstam overcame two double bogeys to stay in the hunt at the Women’s British Open on Saturday, and Minea Blomqvist of Finland surged into contention with the lowest score ever in a major.
Sorenstam offset double-bogey 7s at Nos. 1 and 14 with six birdies in a 2-under 70 Saturday, moving to 7-under 209 through three rounds on the Old Course at Sunningdale. She’s five strokes behind co-leaders Heather Bowie and Rachel Teske, who shot 65s and moved to 12-under 204.
Cristie Kerr had a 9-under 63, and is tied for third place with halfway leader Karen Stupples (70) at 11-under 205.
The biggest move of the day came from 19-year-old Blomqvist, who made a 60-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 10-under 62 — the first in a major.
Blomqvist had six birdies and two eagles, breaking the tournament record of 63 set three years ago by Karrie Webb at Turnberry. She also broke Webb’ course record of 63 set in 1997.
After making the cut by a stroke, Blomqvist was at 8-under 208, tied for seventh place with Laura Davies (69) and Seol-An Jeon (70).
On a day of spectacular scoring in sunny, near windless conditions, Sorenstam wasn’t among the players to go low.
Sorenstam, trying to join Mickey Wright as the only players to defend titles in all four majors, made double bogeys at the first and 14th, each time driving into the rough and then three-putting.
“I had two bad holes that ruined the whole day for me,” she said. “I played them too aggressive and I paid the price for those two holes. But, other than that, I made five birdies and to still shoot under par and, with two double bogeys, I’ve got to be pleased with that.
“However, there are lot of low scores today and I’m a little more behind than I wanted. But, it’s not over yet. This is the British Open and anything can happen, and hopefully I can shoot 10-under tomorrow.”
Blomqvist, who won a tournament two weeks ago in Hungary, started her record round with a 7-wood into 21 feet for eagle on the 485-yard opening hole.
Her only birdie inside 18 feet came at the 273-yard ninth, when she drove the green and two-putted for birdie. She also chipped in for eagle from 60 feet on No. 10, and closed it out with the 60-footer on the 18th.
“I made an eagle and then … I had a feeling today that everything is going good,” she said. “And that’s always an easy feeling. Yesterday, I couldn’t concentrate on any putt. Today, it was totally different, so I really enjoyed it.”
Five women and 21 men have shot 63s in the majors.
Patty Sheehan was the first woman to shoot 63 at a major in the 1984 LPGA Championship. Others were Helen Alfredsson (1994 U.S. Women’s Open), Mary Beth Zimmerman (‘97 Kraft Nabisco), Meg Mallon (‘99 LPGA Championship).
Among the men, Vijay Singh had the most recent 63, in the second round of the 2003 U.S. Open.
Stupples, who opened with a 65, went 39 holes without a bogey before making double bogey at the par-3 fourth when her tee shot missed the green. She was the halfway leader at last week’s Evian Masters in Paris before fading and finishing fourth.
Bowie, still looking for her first victory, was the midway leader at the British Open last year, but finished in a tie for 12th. She could have taken the outright lead Saturday, but made bogey at the last hole.
“I missed the green left with a 5-iron and did not get it up and down,” Bowie said. Her eventful round started with an eagle and included eight birdies, three bogeys and six pars.
“I was the leader last year after two rounds and didn’t play well on Saturday,” she said. “So Saturday is a difficult day for me. I am happy to get through today and feel that tomorrow I will be nervous.”
PGA Buick Open
Tiger Woods shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday at the Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich., and still lost ground to Vijay Singh.
Singh shot a third-round best 65 for an 18-under 198 and a two-stroke lead over John Daly, who shot a 66. Singh has won the last six tournaments he’s led after 54 holes.
Woods started the day trailing by two shots, and despite six birdies and no bogeys, he fell another shot back and is tied for third with Carlos Franco at 15 under. Daniel Chopra (66) is one more stroke back.
Defending champion Jim Furyk and Billy Andrade, who shared the second-round lead with Singh, struggled. Unlike many in the field, they didn’t take advantage of the perfect scoring conditions on one of the easier courses on the PGA Tour.
Furyk shot a 70, and fell into a tie for sixth. Andrade was 1 over and will start the final round on today tied for 11th.
Singh, who trails only Woods and Ernie Els in the world rankings, has three victories this year and 10 top-10 finishes.
But since winning consecutive tournaments three months ago, he has just two top-five finishes and was tied for 28th at the U.S. Open and 20th at the British Open.