Sorenstam, Hurst in playoff today
NEWPORT, R.I. — The U.S. Women's Open isn't quite through punishing Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst.
After four rounds of fog, mud and wind better suited for one of Newport's America's Cup races than a golf championship, the Open was coming back for an 18-hole playoff Monday to break a tie that 11 hours of golf on Sunday couldn't.
"I look forward to another long day tomorrow," Sorenstam said after ending a grueling, gusting 36-hole grind with a 30-foot birdie putt that kissed the lip of the cup and rolled on, leaving her tied with Hurst at even par.
"I think it's different to wake up and be in a playoff for the Open than just another casual day of golf," Sorenstam said. "I have a chance to do something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. I don't think (fatigue) is going to be a problem."
Sorenstam has 67 tournaments and nine majors, including back-to-back U.S. Opens in 1995-96, compared to five titles and one major for Hurst. But the 35-year-old Swede has been bedeviled by the Open for a decade now, including missing a playoff by one shot at Pumpkin Ridge in 2003.
"I'm determined. I have a strong mind and a strong will," said Sorenstam, who took a two-stroke lead after four holes, lost it, and then led by one with two holes to play. "You know, this means a lot to me. I feel like I'm prepared, I have all the experience I need, and I like this golf course."
So does Hurst, who could join Joanne Carner as the only players to win the U.S. Junior Girls, U.S. Women's Amateur and U.S. Women's Open. It's the third consecutive LPGA major to end in a playoff.
Sorenstam is 14-5 in playoffs — twice beating Hurst. Hurst is 0-3.
"I'd die for this," said Hurst who sank a 5-foot putt to save par on No. 18 after knocking her approach 20 yards short of the green. "The feelings that you get, it's indescribable. It's what we play for, something like that, and having that opportunity. Just to have a chance to make that putt and go into a playoff, I mean, it's something that you do dream about."
Hurst and Sorenstam started the day tied at minus-2, but Sorenstam took a two-stroke lead in the morning round that was necessary because the opening day Thursday was wiped out by fog. Sorenstam opened the afternoon with a pair of birdies to take the lead, then gave back four strokes over three holes.
It went back and forth, with Juli Inkster, Brittany Lincicome and Michelle Wie also moving into the lead at points in the final round.
Wie was tied for the lead with six holes to play, but failed to save par from a bunker on the 13th hole. She closed with a 72 and tied for third with Se Ri Pak and Stacy Prammanasudh at 2-over 286.
Inkster lost her chance to become the oldest major champion in women's golf when she three-putted for bogey on the par-3 16th. She closed with a 73 and finished at 287.
It was just Sorenstam and Hurst at even par when Sorenstam sank a 15-foot putt on No. 16 to move to 1-under. But on the par-3 17th, Sorenstam hit a 6-iron that hopped hard and wound up 30 yards beyond the hole and over the green.
She chipped 8 feet past the cup and missed her par putt, leaving them tied going to the 18th. Hurst's tee shot landed just beyond a small creek and she had a decent lie in the thick rough.
She ran the ball toward the green, about 40 yards short of the hole, then chipped 5 feet from the pin while Sorenstam measured her chance to win. The downhill putt curled slightly left to right but not enough, rolling over the lip and on another foot.
"It was looking pretty good and feeling good, too," she said. "I asked it to break a little bit and it didn't break enough."
Hurst made hers to seal the tie at even-par 284, and then the two made plans to get together again, soon.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Get some rest," Sorenstam told her former college rival and neighbor in Phoenix and Lake Tahoe.
"It's been a long day," she said. I'm happy with the way things turned out. I played well, and so did Pat."
