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 Reinvigorated by a fortunate break on the 72nd hole, Annika Sorenstam took advantage by nailing a long approach shot and forcing a playoff
By Patti McGowan
For much of the final round at the LPGA Championship, Annika Sorenstam looked tense and unsure -- and her play reflected it. By the time she reached the 18th tee, she had blown a four-shot lead and was tied with Grace Park, who was in the clubhouse at six under. Then Annika pushed her drive with another unbalanced swing. As the ball sailed right, she yelled at it to stay out of the gnarly rough. When it obediently stopped in the first cut, Annika flashed her biggest smile of the day. She knew she had gotten a great break, and that was all it took to rekindle her spirit and refocus her mind. While waiting to hit her 195-yard approach, Annika chatted with her caddie, giggled and ate a banana. Then she flushed the shot of the day -- a seven-wood to 20 feet (above). It was the first time in a while that Annika had bent at the hips (not at the knees) at address, stood on the balls of her feet (not on her heels) and looked relaxed. After two-putting to force sudden death, she made a textbook par on the first playoff hole to beat Park. Annika has many talents, but being able to regroup in a split second, as she did on Sunday, could be her most impressive. Just as with her reshaped body, Annika trains her mind with a relentless and precise practice regimen. Her caddie often stands out on the range with a walkie-talkie and relays the precise distance of each shot. Details like that might seem trivial, but they give Annika the confidence to overcome adversity.
Patti McGowan owns Knack 4 Golf, a school at Lake Nona Golf Club in Orlando, and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Issue date: June 16, 2003
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Courtesy of CBS
