Big Day for Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam has managed some pretty clutch performances during her Hall of Fame career. That happens when you've accumulated a total of 72 wins.

But today the Swede will have to muster all her wiles and courage as, after opening with a disappointing 2-over 74 in the first round of the season-ending, 32-player ADT Championship, Sorenstam needs an outstanding round to make it to the weekend, when the field will be cut in half.

Complicating matters is that the ADT Championship, which she's won four times, could be final event in her stellar LPGA career. Sorenstam, who announced earlier that 2008 will be her final competitive season so she can concentrate more on family and business interests, admitted being a bit off at the start of the round. "I was a little nervous. I feel like I'm playing good. I'm excited about the week," she said. "But I'm telling you, nothing went my way today."

Sorenstam was four strokes over par after 10 holes on a course - Trump International in West Palm Beach, Fla. - where she's enjoyed a lot of success. But with the ADT Championship system for making it to the final 36 holes - a double-cut, erase-the-scores format - she's never reached the weekend.

The scores are erased after Friday's round and wiped clear again after Saturday's play, after which only the top eight are invited back Sunday to play for the $1 million winner's prize.

The leader after the first round is Katherine Hull, who shot a 68. She's a stroke ahead of Ji-Yai Shin and In-Kyung Kim.

Sorenstam will be looking to play much better Friday in order to have a chance for a Saturday tee time. The tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel, starting at 2:00 p.m. (EST).

After her round, Sorenstam met with reporters for a brief session. Here's what she had to say.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think I played very, very well today. Didn't miss many shots, but made zero putts and you can't score that way. You know, I'm leaving with some disappointment, because I feel like I'm playing very well.

Q. On the green on the first tee, it looked like the way you've looked at so many other tournaments. Was there anything like extra nerves?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I was a little nervous, and, you know, I feel like I'm playing good. I'm excited about the week. It's just, I'm telling you, nothing went my way today. It's just very frustrating that way. I'm just trying to enjoy it. You know, you have so much competitiveness in your blood, you can't just shut it off. I'm here to win. I'm here to do my best, and I'm hitting the ball as good as I can. So then you start getting into the mode of scoring, and when you don't score, it's tougher to enjoy it. When I should really just come in here and absorb everything because it's wonderful.

Q. You've been in this position before in the first round in this format when you had to make a shot or two to get to Saturday. Does your approach change at all?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I think the scores are tough enough, you just have to be patient on the fairways and greens, I mean, as far as the formation, I'm really not going to change it. I just have to make my putts. The greens are fast. Extremely fast, actually. Some you can be aggressive on, and some you just can't. So I just have to place the ball in good spots so I can give myself a good chance.

Q. Is it a lot better being a couple of shots back?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm not really sure. I mean, you can't really practice this format. I mean, it's once a year. You just have to go out and play your best golf and see where you stand.

Q. Is it the speed of the greens that's the big problem today?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: They're just really slick, and they're really tough. You know, some of the pins as you can see are in tough spots. And if you're not close, it's more about lagging than having a chance to make them. I had some chances early on, I just didn't take advantage of them.

Q. Golfers are creatures of habit, usually. All the extra this week, did it take away from anything in the round?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, it's been like that the last six months. You would think I'd be used to it by now. On the contrary, this is the last week and the last tournament. You know, I want to do well. I've done well here in the past. I really don't have any excuses other than I just didn't perform today. I'm disappointed about that.

The transcript for the above interview is courtesy of ASAP Sports.