Featured Golf News
Sorenstam to Play in Final Samsung World Championship
Annika Sorenstam will be playing in her final Samsung World Championship, October 1-5. The $1 million will be played on the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links in California.
Sorenstam, the Swedish superstar who is stepping away from golf at the end of 2008, is the winningest player in the 27-year history of the event. She has five titles in 12 consecutive appearances from 1995-2006, winning the first two championships she played in as well as in 2002, '04 and '05. The event's all-time money leader at $1,234,058, she also finished runner-up in the event in 1998, 2000 and 2006.
A winner of 72 LPGA Tour events, including 10 majors, as well as 18 international tournaments, Sorenstam plans on turning her 13th and final Samsung World Championship appearance into that figurative ride into the Ocean Course sunset. The Samsung World Championship is next on Sorenstam's final playing schedule, with seven events to follow in 2008, and only one of those in the continental United States.
Her standing as the No. 2 player on the LPGA Official Money List this year demonstrates that Sorenstam's form is ready to capture her sixth title. "Throughout my career, I have always regarded the Samsung World Championship as one of my favorite tournaments. This event has given me a lot of special memories, including five victories that I will always cherish," Sorenstam said. "This will be my last Samsung, but I don't expect to get caught up in the sentiment because I will be there to compete. Of course, I will try to enjoy the week, but I'll have plenty of time to look back and get nostalgic after this year. I will be focused on trying to win the tournament."
Sorenstam's three LPGA victories in 2008 are second only to two-time defending Samsung World Champion Lorena Ochoa's six. Sorenstam, 37, is one of two Swedes in this year's Championship field, joining Helen Alfredsson. Sorenstam's legacy in women's golf will be lasting, the rise of the LPGA during her career influential beyond description.
The 1994 Rolex Rookie of the Year, eight-time (LPGA) Rolex Player of the Year and LPGA Official Money List champion, and six-time Vare Trophy winner qualified for the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame during her first decade on Tour. She is one of six LPGA players to achieve the LPGA Career Grand Slam (2001, 2002 and 2005 Kraft Nabisco Championship, 2003, 2004 and 2005 McDonald's LPGA Championship, 1995, 1996 and 2006 U.S. Women's Open and 2003 Women's British Open) and is the LPGA's all-time money leader ($22,426,216).
Sorenstam has won on four different courses in the Samsung World Championship and holds the tournament's lowest score, 22-under-par 266 score in 2002, among her many tournament records. "Winning any event five times is an outstanding feat," tournament director Torrey Gane said. "But, winning an event that is among the most difficult to qualify for and an event that features the best-of-the-best every year is on another plane. That's an impressive legacy for any player, let alone a player who is considered one of the greatest players in the history of golf. If you look at the Championship record book, you'll see her name over and over again. That's a testament not only to her greatness as a player, but what she has meant to this event over the years."
Sorenstam broke through with her first Samsung World Championship in 1995, defeating Laura Davies in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff - the second playoff in championship history. Though Davies reached the 472-yard, par-5 18th hole in two shots, Sorenstam chipped in for birdie from off the green. A stunned Davies three-putted, giving Sorenstam the title. A year later Sorenstam became the third player to win back-to-back Samsung World Championships by tying the then-tournament record of 14-under-par 274 (set by Amy Alcott and Patty Sheehan in 1985 and Beth Daniel in 1994) to beat Alfredsson by a stroke. Sorenstam joined Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster as the only three-time winners of the Samsung World Championship in 2002 as she capped her tournament record score with a final-round 7-under 65. The victory was Sorenstam's ninth of the season and 40th LPGA win.
In 2004, Sorenstam made it five consecutive years with at least six LPGA wins. She rallied to defeat Grace Park by three strokes after a final-round 5-under-par 67 resulted in a 18-under 270 finish. In 2005, Sorenstam successfully defended her last Samsung World Championship title and tied Mickey Wright for most wins in one event by matching her 2004 score. Fueled by an opening-round 8-under 64, she clinched a Championship-record, eight-shot win for her eighth win of the season.
Golf Channel will broadcast the Samsung World Championship live from 3:30-5:30 p.m. PST/6:30-8:30 p.m. EST on October 2-3. NBC's live coverage is 9:30-11:30 a.m. PST/12:30-2:30 p.m. EST on October 4 and 1-3 p.m. PST/4-6 p.m. EST on October 5. TheSamsung World Championship has been played on five continents in 27 years. Half Moon Bay Golf Links becomes the 15th course to host the elite event, which began in 1980 at The Country Club in suburban Cleveland.
