Sorenstam stands alone at the peak

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. – Rarefied air, indeed.

Just when it appeared as if Annika Sorenstam could climb no higher, that there were few rungs left on the professional mountain, the U.S. Women’s Open rolls into the Mile High City.

Seeking to become the first player in 55 years to win the first three legs of the women’s Grand Slam, perhaps the biggest question as play begins today at Cherry Hills Country Club near Denver is how fast she’ll make her foes disappear into thin air.

A few years back, she was eyeing a retirement date in the not-too-distant future. Playing better than ever, Sorenstam now plans to stick around a good bit longer.

“Obviously, I am going to play a little longer, especially now that I am totally enjoying myself,” Sorenstam said Wednesday. “I have reached a new level in my golf game, and I just don’t want to let that go.”

Sorenstam, 34, has won six times in eight starts in 2005 and eight in her past 10 dating to last season. Four years ago, she retooled her schedule to peak during the Grand Slam events and since has won six of the past 14 women’s majors, posting top-five finishes in four others.

“I know what I want to do,” she said. “Now it’s time to play.”

Sorenstam had five-stroke leads in the final round of the year’s first two majors, cruised to relatively fret-free victories and stands as the first player to win the first two legs of the majors since Pat Bradley in 1986.

If Sorenstam were to win again, she could not pick a better stage. Cherry Hills has hosted three men’s U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships and a U.S. Amateur. Arnold Palmer furiously rallied to win his lone Open title at Cherry Hills in 1960, holding off Ben Hogan and a chubby amateur named Jack Nicklaus.

A decidedly old-school course, Cherry Hills will feature tight, tree-lined fairways, smallish greens and the traditional shag-carpet rough. Playing at more than 5,000 feet of altitude, players with length will have an even bigger advantage, given that they hit it straight.

Sorenstam is averaging an LPGA-best 274 yards, so factoring in the 10 percent distance gains from the thin air, she should be popping it roughly 300 yards off the tee.

“She’s developed herself into the great player she is,” defending champion Meg Mallon said of Sorenstam. “It wasn’t like she was this Michelle Wie phenom, destined for greatness.”