Sorenstam's slam is major feat



By winning the British Open, she completed the career Grand Slam.
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) -- The experience of playing on the PGA Tour helped Annika Sorenstam achieve a career milestone.
Sorenstam completed the career Grand Slam of majors by winning an elusive British Open on Sunday, taking the title from one of her biggest rivals, Karrie Webb, and winning a head-to-head duel with another, Se Ri Pak.
Used to pressure since becoming the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour when she played at Colonial three months ago, Sorenstam hit a clutch drive on the final hole at Royal Lytham & amp; St. Annes to set up a routine par. That gave her a one-stroke victory over Pak and another place in the LPGA Tour record book as only the sixth woman to complete the career Grand Slam.
Pressure player
"I think I have become a better player since Colonial for different reasons. I have experienced a lot of pressure and that's what you experience on a day like today," said Sorenstam, who shot a 2-under 70. "The more you do it, I think the better you will get at it. I've been in this situation many times, and I've lost a few, and I've won a few.
"But I think just being there, I know how I react, and I know what kind of shots is needed."
Sorenstam finished 10-under in winning her second major of the year. She won the LPGA Championship in early June and also has victories at two U.S. Opens (1995-96) and two Nabiscos (2001-02). She had finished second at the British Open three times.
Webb, Juli Inkster, Pat Bradley, Mickey Wright and Louise Suggs are the only other women with career Grand Slams.
Pak's blunder
Pak battled back to tie with birdies on the 12th and 16th holes, but the South Korean stumbled on the tough closing hole.
Trying to play it safe, Pak hit a 3-wood that trickled into a pot bunker, leaving her no chance to reach the green. She blasted out, then punched a wedge into the wind to 12 feet but missed the par putt to hand the title to Sorenstam.
"I'm thrilled," Sorenstam said. "I have been wanting to win the tournament for so long and been close. I can't believe it. I've won another major, and now I've won all the four, so all my goals are coming true."
For Pak, the finish was simply frustrating.
"I thought I was in great shape but, for some reason, my ball went into the bunker," she said. "You've got a fairway bunker, you've already got a one-stroke penalty from that.
"That's about it. The last hole was kind of unlucky to be a good finish."
It was a long way from last month for Sorenstam, who withdrew from the Canadian Open after six holes. The reason was exhaustion, which she attributed to the attention that her appearance at Colonial generated.
Upping the stakes
Next on the agenda for the 32-year-old Swede is a calendar Grand Slam, a feat she believes is possible.
"I've played eight majors in the last two years and had a chance to win seven of them," she said. "It's been that close. I have proved to myself I can win all four majors."
Sorenstam finished second at the Nabisco this year and missed the three-way playoff at the U.S. Women's Open by one stroke, taking a bogey on the par-5 closing hole at Pumpkin Ridge.
Defending champion Webb, who finished with a 71, and Grace Park (70) tied for third at 8-under. Third-round leader Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, who's 21/2 months pregnant, finished with a 76 and was fifth, another two shots back.
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