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Annika Misses Cut In Farewell

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 22, 2008

WEST PALM BEACH - Standing in the center of a sun-drenched 18th green, as waves of cheers rippled from a packed gallery, Annika Sorenstam hugged caddie Terry McNamara and took the flag from his hand.

She held it high, like a conquering hero, then slammed it into the hole.

"It's over," she said.

Sorenstam's tour career presumably ended Friday afternoon, when she failed to qualify for the third round of the ADT Championship. She shot a 3-over 75, putting her at 5 over for the week - two shots away from surviving the cut from 32 to 16 for today, after which the field will be pared in half again before the final round battle for $1 million.

"All of a sudden, the time is here," Sorenstam said. "You're standing there on the 18th fairway and it's your last approach shot in an LPGA event. A lot of thoughts go through your head ... and what's been the coolest thing this week is all these people who showed up that I don't know, my fans."

They showed up in droves Friday. When Sorenstam was on the 16th tee, hundreds crowded around her and playing partner Laura Diaz. At the same moment, about 100 feet away on the 11th tee, a gallery of exactly nine people watched a South Korean twosome.

Everyone wanted to see history, in case it really was the final round of Sorenstam's 72-win, Hall of Fame LPGA career.

Even Lorena Ochoa - the defending ADT champion, who also didn't advance to the weekend - showed up at the 18th green to give her friend and rival a farewell hug.

"I can't imagine how she's doing right now," Ochoa said. "But I guess it will come for all of us at one point. So we can only say that we enjoyed having her and thank you for everything."

Sorenstam won the ADT four times, but never reached the weekend in the unusual double-cut, erase-the-scores format, and knew she'd have to make up some ground Friday. She just never got it going.

Katherine Hull shot 71 to get to 5 under, making her the leader after two rounds. The scorecards of the surviving 16 all get erased for the third round, and will again when the final eight play Sunday.

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