STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) – Annika Sorenstam made two eagles in a course-record 8-under-par 64 Sunday for a two-stroke victory at the HP Open – a short drive from where the Hall of Famer grew up.
Sorenstam won the event for the fourth time. She was two shots behind entering the final round and finished at 13-under 275 on the tough lakeside layout in Ullna.
“I was clearly disappointed how I played during the first two days,” said Sorenstam, who last played the course as an amateur 15 years ago. “I wanted to show what I can, especially in front of the home fans.”
Her performance in the Ladies European Tour event followed a 13th-place showing at the British Open a week ago. The Swede has 69 titles worldwide, including seven majors.
Countrywoman Carin Koch, who shared the lead with Becky Morgan of Wales entering Sunday, closed with a 68 and for a 277. Morgan (70) was at 279 and Scotland’s Janice Moodie (68) was at 280.
Sorenstam’s first eagle came on the long fourth hole, where she nearly missed a double-eagle. Sorenstam then eagled the 12th, another par 5.
“It was really satisfying to play at least well on the final day when I really needed to,” she said. “It feels really special.”
Sorenstam complained about fatigue earlier this week but felt inspired before the last round.
“When I came to the course in the morning the conditions were perfect,” she said. “There was hardly no wind and the course is so good. Carin and Becky played well … there was no choice for me than to play as well as possible.”
Sorenstam bettered the previous course record by three shots. Swedish amateur Louise Stahle, heading to Arizona State in two weeks, shot a 67 in the opening round and former U.S. Open champion Liselotte Neumann of Sweden matched it Saturday. Neumann (71) finished at 286 and Stahle (73) at 287.
Ullna, one of Sweden’s best courses, hosted five men’s European Tour events in the 1980s. Tiger Woods played the SAS Invitational Match Play at Ullna four years ago and lost to Jesper Parnevik of Sweden. The world’s top women returned there for the first time since 1982, when Nancy Lopez and Sally Little were on a U.S. mixed team that beat Sweden.
AP-ES-08-08-04 1732EDT
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