Sorenstam resumes streak for history

The golfer hopes to her sixth straight tournament at the Michelob Ultra Open.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Even Annika Sorenstam finds many of her accomplishments mind-boggling.
Like her stretch of 43 rounds at par or better. Or all the gaudy stats behind her long list of victories.
But having a chance to make history by winning her sixth straight tournament? That's not overwhelming, that's exhilarating.
"I love it," Sorenstam said Wednesday, a broad grin splashing across her face. "That is what keeps me motivated and going. I love the chance. It has a meaning other than just trying to finish good in a week. That I can make history, I love that. That is fun pressure.
"Not a lot of people have this chance," she added. "As a matter of fact, when I had the chance to win five in a row and I didn't succeed [in 2001], I never thought I would have the chance to do it again. Hopefully, I will do better this time."
She'll find out soon enough. After tying Nancy Lopez's LPGA record with five consecutive victories, Sorenstam can have the mark all to herself if she wins the Michelob Ultra Open, which begins Thursday.
"It's an amazing accomplishment that's happening," Meg Mallon said. "Hopefully she'll be in the hunt and have a chance at it."
Accomplishments
In her 12th season as a pro, Sorenstam already has made plenty of history. She's won 59 tournaments, including eight majors. She's completed the career Grand Slam, only the sixth LPGA player to do so, and is in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
She's shot a 59, and she was the first woman to play on the PGA Tour since 1945 when she teed it up at Colonial two years ago.
Yet weeks like this are still special, another chance to set herself apart.
"My goal for the year was to win majors. ... This is a very important week for me for different reasons," she said. "I'd like to play well here, continue the streak and continue to play well. I'm three-for-three, all of a sudden it's important stuff this week."
And, bad news for everybody else on the tour, she might be better equipped to keep a run like this going than ever been before.
When Sorenstam was trying to become the first player to win three straight times at the U.S. Women's Open in 1997, she missed the cut.
When she was trying to tie Lopez's winning streak at the 2001 Longs Drug Challenge, rain shortened the tournament to 54 holes and she tied for 43rd.
But whether it's maturity, her record of success, the circus that surrounded her appearance at the Colonial or even the upheavals in her personal life, Sorenstam is approaching the latest milestone with surprising calm.
"I have learned to be patient," she said. "And then again, I have more confidence. I know that if I have four days to play, I can turn a bad round into a good one. I can be patient and play well."
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