CORNING, N.Y. -- When Rosie Jones finished an interview on
Wednesday afternoon, only one thing was on her mind.
"I've got to go practice for Annika," said Jones, heading back
out to the Corning Country Club course.
Join the crowd, Rosie.
Sorenstam, who has won four of the five events she's played this
year and eight of the past 11, is back to defend her Corning
Classic title beginning on Thursday. And unlike last year, she
arrived early.
That alone should make her a prohibitive favorite to win for the
61st time on the LPGA Tour.
Last May, Sorenstam made a late commitment to play Corning and
didn't arrive until the eve of the tournament. Without any
practice, she shot an opening-round 65 on a course she hadn't seen
in nine years.
"It worked last year. This year, I decided to have a little
different approach and come early," said Sorenstam, who arrived
Tuesday after a week off. "It obviously helps to know the golf
course. I know it from last year and now again I've got a chance to
see it. I feel like I'm ready."
Sorenstam said her focus remains on the two majors looming in
June -- the LPGA Championship and the U.S. Open.
"I'd like to win more majors, I believe I can do that," she
said. "Right now in my mind there's a grand slam. I believe I can
do it."
For at least the first two rounds, Sorenstam will be playing in
a group with the 45-year-old Jones, a two-time winner of the
Corning Classic who would dearly love to win one major before she
retires at the end of the year.
"I haven't let go of my dream, I want to win a major still. I
came pretty close this year," said Jones, runner-up to Sorenstam
at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March. "I think I'm going to
have to play better to get past the big girl. I've been
disappointed I haven't been able to do that."
Sorenstam boasts the lowest scoring average at 68.95, followed
by Cristie Kerr (70.48) and Jones (71.05). Jones is first in
putting average (27.85).
The 34-year-old Swede beat Jones by eight shots in the Nabisco
and took the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship two weeks ago by 10
strokes, leaving everyone in awe with her near-flawless game.
Jones, who had her clubs stolen from her car before the Chick-fil-A
tournament, missed the cut.
"I think she's intimidating as a player because she's such a
great competitor," Jones said. "She sets her standards higher
than everybody else. She has set goals for herself that I never
thought were even out there. But she still has her good days and
bad days. You just have to have believe in yourself. I don't think
it's beyond anybody to do that."
Last year, Michelle Estill was poised to do that here. She
seemed on the way to her first triumph since her rookie year in
1991 when she gained a four-shot lead with 11 holes to play. Then
she self-destructed with some errant shots, and Sorenstam rallied
with four birdies on the back nine for an 18-under 270 total, two
shots better than Estill and Vicki Goetze-Ackerman.
Sorenstam exuded confidence as she prepared to play a field
featuring nine of the top 25 players on the 2005 money list.
"I like to compete," said Sorenstam, who is 1-for-1 in title
defenses this year with seven remaining. "Once I stand on the
first tee, I'm going to give it all I've got. I come here to play,
I come here to win."
So does Jones, the first two-time winner of this event and its
only repeat winner (1996-97). She has won more than $540,000 at
Corning, is a huge crowd favorite, and since it's likely her last
time playing the course, she was a bit overcome with emotion.
"This is a sentimental tournament for me, it's one of my
favorites," said Jones, who has been plagued by back and neck
problems for several years. "It brings a lot of memories. I've had
a lot of great moments. I love this place.
"I'm just glad I'm leaving. It's a good time to retire," said
Jones, sixth on the money list. "I feel blessed. If I stopped
right now, today, I'd be totally satisfied."