STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Annika Sorenstam birdied the last hole
for an 8-under 65 Sunday to tie the lowest score on her home course
and edge Lorena Ochoa by one shot to win the Scandinavian TPC.
The Swede finished with a 21-under 271 total at the Bro-Balsta
course, where she began playing golf when she was 12. Ochoa, a
Mexican ranked second in the world behind Sorenstam, closed with a
66.
It was the third victory of the season for Sorenstam, who won
her first tournament of the year in Mexico, then needed nine more
tournaments before winning the Women's U.S. Open and her 10th major
last month. She now has 82 wins worldwide.
With a gallery of more than 20,000 surrounding the 18th green,
Sorenstam hit her approach to within about six feet of the pin.
"I was pretty nervous ... I just wanted to get the right
feeling when I putted," Sorenstam said. "It was a great finish.
Excellent drive, good iron and good putt.
"I'm surprised it took 21 under to win. I thought 3 or 4 under
today would be a good score. It was windy and rainy out there, but
suddenly we started making birdie after birdie."
Sorenstam, the tournament host who won the inaugural Ladies
European Tour event at Barseback in southern Sweden last year,
started with an eagle on the opening hole and birdied four of the
last five holes. She made two birdies on the front nine.
After making the winning putt, Sorenstam jumped into a pond near
the 18th green with her sister Charlotta -- the same pond where they
dived for balls as teenagers. They grew up five minutes away from
the course and their parents -- also members of the club -- still
live there.
Ochoa, who also had a bogey-free round, made five birdies and an
eagle on the 17th, where she pulled even with Sorenstam.
"Annika deserved to win," Ochoa said. "That birdie on 18 was
beautiful to watch. I'm really happy because I played really good.
I missed a couple of short putts on the front nine, but I tried
really hard."
Suzann Pettersen, like Sorenstam a member of Europe's winning
Solheim Cup team at Barseback in 2003, finished third at 276 after
a 68. Gwladys Nocera, the Ladies European Tour money leader, was
fourth at 280 after a 71.
Four-time major winner Laura Davies and Catriona Matthew shot
71s and tied for fifth at 282. Sherri Steinhauer, who won the
Women's British Open last week, had a 72 for a 290 total and shared
21st place.