Ochoa takes command

Annika Sorenstam survived her toughest day in a major only to remain seven shots behind the leader.

The Swede shot a 4-over-par 77 Saturday and is 1 over for the tournament, trailing Lorena Ochoa after three rounds at the wind-swept Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, Scotlant.

A winner of 10 majors, including the 2003 Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham, Sorenstam managed to stay patient amid 35 mph wind at the Old Course.

“I would think these were the toughest conditions in a major, maybe ever,” Sorenstam said. “It’s tough to drive, tough to hit irons, tough to putt.”

Ochoa shot a par 73 and leads at 6-under 213, the only player under par for the tournament. She’s trailed by Linda Wessberg (219), one of only three players to finish under par on the day.

Sorenstam joins three players tied for third at 1-over 220 – Maria Hjorth (72), Jee Young Lee (75) and Karine Icher (77).

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., who began the day tied for second place, shot an 80 and is tied for seventh at 221.

Bridgestone Invitational

Rory Sabbatini met one goal. He gets another shot at Tiger Woods.

Sabbatini got his mistake out of the way early at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, settling down after a double bogey to salvage a 2-over 72 and build a one-shot lead over Woods, a five-time winner at Firestone.

Woods dropped out of a share for the lead with a bogey from the trees on the 18th hole, but he still managed a 69 and left himself a good chance to win this World Golf Championship for the third straight year.

“I tried to hang in there and not give any shots back,” Woods said.

Sabbatini was at 4-under 206, the highest score for a 54-hole leader at Firestone since it became a WGC event in 1999.

Reno-Tahoe Open

Steve Flesch overcame windy conditions with birdies on the last two holes for his second straight 69 and a five-stroke lead in the Reno-Tahoe Open at Reno, Nev. Flesch, who is at 15-under 201, had five birdies and two bogeys in winds that gusted up to 30 mph on the 7,472-yard Montreux Golf & Country Club on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada.

PGA Tour rookie John Merrick had six birdies and two bogeys in a round of 68 to get to 10-under 206 and a tie for second with Australian Steve Allan (69) and Todd Fischer (69), who has a home on the golf course.

Champions Tour

D.A. Weibring shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over Jim Thorpe after two rounds of the 3M Championship at Blaine, Minn., at 13-under 131.