Sorenstam falls back on back 9
Annika Sorenstam’s surge to the top of the leaderboard at the Women’s British Open in Sunningdale, England, stopped suddenly on the back nine.
The defending champion moved within two strokes of the lead with three early birdies Friday, but she faltered late, with two bogeys and zero birdies in the second half of her round. Sorenstam settled for a 1-under 71 that left her tied for fifth at 5-under 139, four strokes behind leader Karen Stupples.
Sorenstam is trying to join Mickey Wright as the only players to defend titles in all four majors.
Stupples had another bogey-free round, this time a 2-under 70 that mover her to 9-under 135. Beth Daniel (69) and South Korea’s Jeong Jang (68) and Seol-An Jeon (69) are tied for second at 6-under 138. Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., is at 145.
Stupples’ only regret was missed opportunities.
With the sun shining on Sunningdale’s Old Course and little wind to trouble the early starters, Stupples fired a 7-wood to the back of the green at the first and made a two-putt birdie. She rolled in a “perfect” 40-foot birdie putt at No. 17 after coming up short with her second shot.
She believes she should have been further ahead of the field.
“It was a bit frustrating at times because I had a couple of opportunities, one on 9 and one on 10, to make birdie,” Stupples said. “I felt like I hit really good putts, but they just didn’t go in the hole.
“The one on 10 was like a dagger to my heart because it totally did a horseshoe round the hole.”
Stupples, who also held the lead midway through last week’s Evian Masters before fading and finishing fourth, completed her round long before Sorenstam started.
The Swede knew what she had to do to make up a five-stroke deficit.
“I got off to a good start, I birdied the first two and then I birdied the ninth and I felt pretty good about everything,” Sorenstam said.
“And then I made the turn and I didn’t feel so good any more. I was just scrambling on the back nine really. So it was a bit like a long day. Disappointed, obviously, but I managed to save par so I didn’t really hurt myself too much.”
Sorenstam said she was disturbed on the 12th tee by a camera clicking on her backswing, although an official on the course said the noise came from a scoreboard behind the photographers near the 11th green.
PGA Buick Open
Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Billy Andrade were tied for the lead after two rounds of the Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich.
Singh, the first-round leader, had a 70 and was at 11-under 133 with Furyk, the defending champion who had a 67, and Andrade, who had a 65.
John Daly matched his best round of the year with a 64 and was tied with three others one stroke behind the leaders. Tiger Woods had a 4-under 68 and was among four others another shot back at Warwick Hills.
The cut was 4 under, matching the low for the season on the PGA Tour.
U.S. Senior Open
The second round of the U.S. Senior Open in St. Louis was postponed due to unplayable conditions. The second round is set for today, and those who make the cut are scheduled to play 36 holes on Sunday. Peter Jacobsen was the first-round leader with a 6-under 65.
Augusta to pay to end suit
Augusta commissioners voted to pay $120,000 to the attorneys of Martha Burk, who claimed the city improperly restricted a protest against Augusta National’s all-male membership.
Burk, who heads the National Council of Women’s Organizations, filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming an ordinance that kept her from protesting near the main gate of Augusta National during last year’s Masters violated her rights.