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Nice Way To Go Out, Annika

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By MICK ELLIOTT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2008

EDINA, Minn. - EDINA, Minn. - If the 6-iron from 199 yards Annika Sorenstam hit on the 72nd hole Sunday at Interlachen Country Club, as she has vowed, is her last in the U.S. Women's Open, it was some way to say goodbye.

She knocked it in the cup.

Struggling with her putter all week, Sorenstam's final appearance in the event she has won three times, was shaping up as more depressing that memorable. She arrived on the par-5 18th hole needing birdie to avoid shooting 80. She was well down the leaderboard and dragging to the finish.

But the final roar that sent her toward retirement was Hall of Fame worthy after the ball landed on the front of the green and rolled some 15 feet into the cup.

"Leaving with another great memory, that's for sure," Sorenstam said. "It was amazing. They have been so, so supportive and I was out there dragging and everybody was just trying to keep me going.

"I don't walk away with the trophy but to feel so supported and feel so loved, it's just something that I'll never forget."

Disappointed Lincicome

There still is more work to do before Seminole resident Brittany Lincicome returns to old form.

The 22-year-old, two-time LPGA winner is mired in the first slump of her four-season career. After playing 36 holes of this week's U.S. Women's Open, she was hoping the corner was turned. But back-to-back 5-over rounds during the final two days left her 11 over and tied for 58th.

"I had trouble hitting fairways," Lincicome said. "I couldn't figure out my 3-wood and hybrid. And if you can't hit fairways you are in trouble at the U.S. Open."

For the week, Lincicome, in the process of rebuilding her swing with area teaching pro Matt Mitchell, hit her target 23 of 56 times off the tee, a punishing average of 41 percent.

Lincicome will keep playing, competing in LPGA events the next two weeks, before taking a break.

"I'm still upbeat," she said. "It feels like it's really close."

Getting Noticed

To no one's surprise, Paula Creamer, who goes by the nickname "Pink Panther," arrived for Sunday's final round fashioning a fashionably hot-pink golf outfit.

But even her fellow players did a double take when, before Creamer began warming up on the practice range, her caddie arrived with a bucket full of pink range balls.

"Whatever works for you," cracked Helen Alfredsson. "But better you than me."

Ochoa Taking Break

Disappointed by a 5-over finish that left her 14 shots back of the winner Inbee Park, world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa on Sunday said she will take the next three weeks off to regroup.

Ochoa, a six-time winner this year, came into the Women's Open after dealing with two recent deaths in her family - maternal grandfather and uncle.

"I just need to take some time," she said. "Mentally, I'm a bit weak at the moment."

The Mexican hero plans to return to action in the Evian Masters, set for July 24-27.

Ouch

It wasn't exactly a charge to the finish line Sunday.

Except for winner Inbee Park, who shot a final-round 2-under 71, no player who began the day among the top 15 managed to break par.

Even with Park's red number, the top 15 players after three rounds combined for a 46-over cumulative total Sunday.

Still Got It

Sweden's Helen Alfredsson has been one of the LPGA's premier players.

Just not in a long time.

Alfredsson, one of the first foreign players to test the LPGA waters, won the 1993 Kraft Nabisco and a total of five titles. But her last win was in 2003 and at 43 isn't going to have too many more chances.

So she'll relish Sunday's runner-up finish.

"I'm very much at the end of my career," she said.

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