Eagle Helps Sorenstam Land Her 54th Title

Annika Sorenstam said that winning isn’t getting old, even if that’s just what she is doing, which is what happens when you turn 34 and start facing questions about when you’re thinking about retiring.

Sorenstam described herself as “a little older, a little more mature” after she came from behind Sunday at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, closed with a five-under 67 and won the Samsung World Championship for a record fourth time.

On this occasion, her margin was three shots over a chagrined Grace Park, who was second for the second week in a row.

Sorenstam, who didn’t take the lead until the 71st hole, chipped in from 40 feet for an eagle at the 15th to catch Park, then gently rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at the 17th to claim yet another prize in her Hall of Fame career.

“It’s been a special week,” Sorenstam said Sunday. “Today was up to me to do something.”

Few have managed such a touch as Sorenstam. It was Sorenstam’s 17th come-from-behind victory, her sixth victory this year, her fifth consecutive year with at least that many, and her 54th win in 11 years.

The $206,250 that Sorenstam collected pushed her over $2 million for the fourth consecutive year, a total that has been reached by no other player in LPGA history.

What’s more, Sorenstam has all but wrapped up her seventh money title and her seventh player-of-the-year title, which ties Kathy Whitworth for the most ever. Whitworth has the LPGA record with eight money titles.

Rounds of 66-68-69-67 and a total of 18-under 270 were a testament to Sorenstam’s consistency and accuracy, the hallmarks of her game.

The day changed for Sorenstam at the 538-yard 15th, where she had 210 yards to the front of the green and decided to go for it. She hit a seven-wood and the ball stopped at the back of the green in the fringe. Her chip was perfect, and Sorenstam jumped in celebration.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” she said. “When I did chip in, suddenly it was all even and I got extra adrenaline. I was really trying to put the pressure on Grace.”

For Park, it was a bitter ending to a tournament that had seemed to belong to her since her 62 in the first round.

She blamed her putting and said there’s only one thing she can take away from this week: “Just I’m the biggest loser.”

Park three-putted the 17th for a bogey and then bogeyed the 18th after an errant drive. It was her sixth runner-up finish this year.

“I fell apart and didn’t get it done and that’s it,” she said. “When you have the No. 1 player behind you, you expect her to come back. She did what she had to do and I didn’t.”

Park, who began the day with a three-shot lead over Sorenstam and Cristie Kerr, shot a 73 and ended her round with consecutive bogeys. She led by three shots after she birdied the par-five 12th and wound up losing by three -- a six-shot swing over the last six holes.

Lorena Ochoa was third after a 70, Sophie Gustafson was fourth and Kerr closed with a 75 to fall to fifth place.

Michelle Wie finished with a two-under 70, tied for 13th and then started thinking about catching up with the rest of her 10th-grade class at Punahou School in Honolulu. Wie said she hasn’t missed any tests, because she took them before she left, but there’s still work to do because her classmates have a head start.

“It’s like a race,” she said. “You are running with them and then you suddenly stop and sit down for a beer. They’re like five miles ahead of you and you’re with this beer belly, trying to catch up. So it’s a little bit hard.”

Wie, who played the last two rounds in seven under, said she was satisfied with the week, her seventh and last LPGA event this year.

“I think I am able to compete out here,” she said. “I had a lot of fun playing with the pros and it’s great, only 20 players here, you know you’re the best.”

She said she wouldn’t mind a break, but knows she isn’t going to get one.

“I wish I could take some time off, but it’s back to the books,” she said.

That includes a full load of schoolwork, including physics and Japanese, her two favorite subjects.

In addition to school, Wie said she is going to practice her golf, although she is permitted to play Waialae Country Club, the site of the PGA Tour’s Sony Open, only twice a month because it’s a private club.

Wie, who turned 15 last Monday, doesn’t have a pro event on her schedule for 2005, although B.J. Wie said his daughter may once again play in the Sony Open, Jan. 13-16 in Honolulu, with a sponsor’s exemption. In January at the Sony Open, Wie shot even par, but missed the cut by one shot. Wie also may play in the pro-am at the PGA Tour’s Mercedes Championship the week before Sony, the same as she did this year.

“That would be great,” she said. “Hopefully I’ll do better [next] year, if I get invited.”

Until then, Wie has a new cellphone, a gift from her parents. That’s the good news, but there is some bad news.

“I only have 100 minutes.”