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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sorenstam better Slam while she can, because the teens are gaining

Doug Ferguson Associated Press

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. – Her dream of a Grand Slam having dissipated in the mile-high air, Annika Sorenstam stuck around Cherry Hills long enough to watch the final act of a U.S. Women’s Open that kept everyone in suspense to the very end.

Ultimately, the biggest surprise was Sorenstam being reduced to the role of spectator.

So dominant in winning the first two majors by a combined 11 shots, Sorenstam was under par for only two of the 72 holes at the U.S. Women’s Open. No one worried about her over the weekend because Sorenstam never got any closer than five shots from the lead.

Sorenstam wound up in a tie for 23rd, nine shots behind Birdie Kim. It was her lowest finish in 52 tournaments, dating to a missed cut in the 2002 Women’s British Open.

“It was a tough week, a tough championship,” Sorenstam said. “But you always learn something. I’m sure I will look back at this week and bring something good out of it.”

What she likely will find is an opportunity that might not get any easier.

She is still miles ahead of everyone else on the LPGA Tour, but competition that has been lacking the last two years might be coming sooner than anyone realizes.

Teenagers were all the rage at Cherry Hills, and four of them – Morgan Pressel (17), Brittany Lang (19), Michelle Wie (15) and Paula Creamer (18) – had a share of the lead at some point during the Women’s Open.

Sorenstam gave Pressel a hearty hug after the feisty Floridian had the Open snatched away by Kim’s spectacular bunker shot that dropped for birdie on the 72nd hole. She told Pressel she played great and to keep her spirits up because there would be many more chances.

“If we can keep playing well … it’s just going to be tougher to win,” Pressel said. “I don’t know if you will see anybody dominate like Annika. There’s going to be so many players that are really, really good at a young age.”

The Grand Slam is tough enough as it is, proven by the fact Sorenstam was only the sixth player to get halfway home since Arnold Palmer reinvented golf’s Holy Grail in 1960.