Whispering Swede nothings

Whispering Swede nothings

Otrolig means "unbelievable" in Swedish, and it may be the best way to describe Annika Sorenstam.

After the 31-year-old Swede stormed from behind to catch and then beat Canada's Lorie Kane in a playoff Saturday at the Takefuji Classic, it's only appropriate to start describing her in her native tongue.

The victory at the Waikoloa Beach Resort is her second win in as many weeks. And after taking eight tournaments last year, Sorenstam shows no signs of slowing down.

beslut (determination)

THE SHAG BAG Karrie Webb avenged her playoff lost two weeks ago to Sorenstam by beating Suzann Pettersen in a playoff Sunday to win the Australian Open. Webb only needed one extra hole to dispose of the 20-year-old Norwegian. ... Twelve-year-old Michelle Wie made news and set records by Monday-qualifying for the Takefuji Classic. While this no doubt is a great accomplishment, scoring an 83 to grab one of the two spots available to the four-player field takes a little away from the feat. Already 5-foot-10 and only in the seventh grade, however, Wie has a promising future. ... Before Wei, Natalie Gulbis held the mark as the youngest to Monday-qualify for an LPGA tournament when she did so for her hometown Longs Drugs Challenge five years ago at age 14. Gulbis was also in Hawaii last week and earned her first paycheck as a member of the LPGA Tour, finishing 19th. ... Kasumi Fuji almost turned a sponsor's exemption into an LPGA card. The 34-year-old Japanese star held a three-shot lead heading into the final round at the Takefuji Classic, but a two-stroke penalty for picking up pebbles on the third-green fringe dashed those hopes. ... The PGA Tour's loss is the LPGA Tour's gain: The big boys will no longer play the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill, but the women will be adding the Michelob Light Classic at that very course. The Michelob Light Classic was held for five years in St. Louis but is not on the schedule in 2002. ... Ever dream of your favorite player in nothing but her FootJoys? Well, Playboy would like to make that dream come true. Playboy.com is conducting a poll for Sexiest Babe of the LPGA; the winner will be offered a pictorial in the magazine. As of midday Monday, Carin Koch held a 1,000-vote lead over Jill McGill.

On Saturday, Sorenstam's determination proved to be the difference. With seven holes left, she remained confident despite finding herself three shots behind. As it turned out, Sorenstam needed only five holes to take over the lead; four birdies later, she was up one. But was this development at all surprising? We are talking about the same woman who erased a 10-shot lead on the final day last season in L.A. to win.

"I knew that [Kane] was playing well and wasn't going to make any mistakes," said Sorenstam, who is undefeated in her last seven playoff appearances, "so I needed to make some birdies to put some pressure on her."

It was the second time Kane has fallen victim to Sorenstam in a playoff. And though she's watched Sorenstam for nine years now, this quick turnaround still impressed Kane. "I think today was probably a true test of what Annika Sorenstam can do given the opportunity," Kane said.

häpnadsväckande (amazing)

The win was the 32nd of Sorenstam's LPGA career -- tying her for 13th on the all-time list with Beth Daniel. For the last two years, Sorenstam has been undoubtedly the most dominant golfer in the world, and that goes for any tour. Not even Tiger Woods can say that he has won 14 times in that span. Aside from the victories, Sorenstam amazingly has finished in the top-10 better than three out of every four times (34 for 48) she has teed it up.

"I have a whole lot of luck in me right now and I am just enjoying the moment," Sorenstam said.

How much of Sorenstam's success is good fortune and how much of it is skill? If you have any doubts, just look to these stats: Over the past two seasons, Sorenstam has played 164 rounds on the LPGA Tour and has scored in the 60s an astonishing 77 times. Plus, let's not forget she is the only woman to record a 59. On the flip side, to show just how consistent she is, Sorenstam has shot over par just 25 times in those 164 rounds.

lycklig (happy)

While it's easy to be happy when you're playing as well as she is, Sorenstam's mood lately is teenage-girl-backstage-at-an-*N Sync-concert kind of happy. Early in her career, Sorenstam captured back-to-back U.S. Opens, undoubtedly the most treasured tournament in the world, but rarely showed her pearly whites and never even pretended to giggle. But during the last two years, she has definitely let her hair down -- well, as far as her short locks will fall.

"I'm just loving it. I had such a great time last year," Sorenstam said. "I don't think I smiled and laughed so much in my life."

ärelysten (ambitious)

Sorenstam's ambition may be her most telling trait. With her level of success and the daily grind to maintain it, she could easily rest on her laurels. But that hasn't been the case. This offseason, Sorenstam did go six weeks without touching a golf club, but she says she worked just as hard, if not harder, during her time off.

That said, can Sorenstam win 10 times in a year or become the first LPGA player to win a Grand Slam? (Yes, Pat Bradley won a three-tournament Slam, but that doesn't really count, does it?) Can she earn $3 million in a season? Can she best Nancy Lopez's mark of victories in five straight starts? (By the way, Sorenstam will be the defending champion at five of the next six tournaments and has won the sixth previously.) Is the sky the limit?

"I have lots of numbers in my head and I have set goals," Sorenstam said about her expectations for 2002. "I am very happy about last year, but I believe I can do better this year and I just have to focus on my game and improve on certain areas.

"I have started better this year than last year."

With all these qualities working in her favor, it's no wonder Sorenstam has become the ... bäst.

Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section, is a longtime caddie on the LPGA Tour. Click here to send him a question or comment.

 

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