Hawaiian Counterpunch

Clockwise from the upper left: Jane Park, Momoko Ueda, Kelli Kuehne & Russy Gulyanamitta. Photos By: Charles Laberge

Gulyanamitta, a 31-year-old Thai who lost her card in 2004 and regained it in December at Q school, moved into T-2 with a 68, and 19-year-old Angela Park's 69 tied her with Ueda for fifth despite a two-stroke slow-play penalty on the 10th hole Saturday (see page TK). But Sorenstam's closing 69 was bettered by only one player (Gulyanamitta) among the top 42 going into the final round.

Jane Park, playing in the group in front of Sorenstam, moved into a tie for the lead at eight under when she rolled in an 80-foot putt for birdie on No. 15, triggering a roar that got Sorenstam's attention as she stood on the 14th green. But that was to be Park's last birdie of the day.

Ueda briefly moved into a tie for the lead at eight under when she made a 35-foot snake on No. 16, but then watched as Sorenstam slammed home a four-footer to get to nine under. "I learned many things today from Annika," Ueda said through an interpreter. "She showed me how to hit the big shots, how to make the big putts and how to finish a round."

Doubt about the outcome was ended when Sorenstam birdied No. 17, allowing her to play a fairway wood, an iron and a wedge into the par-5 18th where her tap-in par prompted two clenched fists thrust into the air and a long, tearful hug with McGee. She trails only Kathy Whitworth (88) and Mickey Wright (82) on the all-time LPGA victory list.

"Annika played incredible," said Diaz. "[But] I'm not chasing Annika or any other players, just battling it in my head more than anything."

Sorenstam celebrated the new season with 10 pull-ups Tuesday, the first time she has been able to do that many since last April. "She played last year with one arm," McNamara said, referring to the numbness the Swede experienced in her right arm from the ruptured disk. But for a short missed putt on No. 2 and a too-cute chip on No. 17 that rolled back to her feet and led to a double bogey, Sorenstam's opening-round 70 would have been more impressive.

Kelli Kuehne, the former two-time U.S. Women's Amateur champ who had to go back to Q school last year to regain her card, was the first-round leader with a 67, one stroke clear of Jacqueline Yang, who used to be Young-A Yang but apparently is not forever young. Kerr, the reigning U.S. Women's Open champion, was among seven who shot 69 while Paula Creamer joined Sorenstam among 13 players at 70.

Blasberg, whose best finish in 52 LPGA events was T-18, backed up her opening-round 69 with a 68 to move even with Sorenstam at seven-under 137 going into the final round. Ueda gained the final group with a second-round 67. The biggest move Friday was from Angela Park, the 2007 rookie of the year, whose 65 was the tournament's best by two strokes.

The true key moment may have come Friday when Sorenstam walked off the fourth green after making a double bogey -- her second in a six-hole stretch over two rounds -- and said to McNamara, "I'm mad as a hornet. I'm hitting it too good to let this happen." Beginning at No. 9 she birdied six of the final 10 holes for a 67 -- including a 31 on the back nine. She made only one other bogey after that double, a three-putt on No. 11 in the final round.

Or perhaps the real key moment came later Friday, after her post-round practice, when she and McGee went for a walk on the beach. "I've found a real balance between my personal life and my professional life," Sorenstam says. "Last year, the desire wasn't there, and my swing was definitely not there. Now it is."

Back home in Orlando waits a shirt with a 70 on it her sister Charlotta had made and a bottle of wine a friend discovered that has 70 on the label. "I'm ready to collect it now," Annika says. The wait was a lot longer than anyone could have imagined, and it's tantalizing to imagine what the future holds.

"I'm not sure if it is possible," Sorenstam said, assessing the difficulties catching Ochoa, who has become so consistent she earns Rolex Rankings points virtually every time she tees it up. "I just need to focus on what I can do and that's play good golf," she said, sounding very much like a once and future queen.