WEST PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) - Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam posted a four-under 68 to open a three-shot lead midway through the one million dollar ADT Championship.
Sorenstam is after her eighth win of 2004 and took advantage of a favourable bounce that led to a birdie on the ninth hole.
She seized a three-shot advantage over American Laura Diaz, Australian Karrie Webb and American Cristie Kerr after two rounds of the season-ending event. Sorenstam began the round with a one-stroke lead.
The turning point for Sorenstam came on the ninth hole, where she nearly plunked her mother - who was standing on the cart path - with an errant second shot that she badly pushed to the right.
"I guess my mom was standing right there," Sorenstam said. "She's like, 'Are you trying to hit me?' But I missed her, luckily."
Trying to reach the green on the par-five ninth in two from 214 yards, Sorenstam feared her shot would hit the path and bounce in the bushes. Instead, it stopped just short of the path and her mom, allowing her an easy chip shot that led to a six-foot birdie putt.
"For me to be able to turn around and make birdie, that was big, it was real big," Sorenstam said. "I want to say that was probably the key for me to have a good back nine."
Sorenstam played the first eight holes even but the good fortune at No. 9 ignited a string of three birdies in four holes. She played the back in three-under and completed 36 holes at the Trump International Golf Club at 10-under 134.
Having already clinched a seventh Player of the Year Award, Sorenstam is trying to match the second-highest win total of her career.
In 2001, Sorenstam won eight times in 18 events, then captured a career-high 11 events the following year.
"I am in a good position," she said. "I mean, I like to lead all the time. Obviously, you want to lead on Sunday. But this is good for me. I mean, I've got to be in this position to learn how to play better."
A year ago, Sorenstam squandered a four-shot lead over the final nine holes of this event as Meg Mallon rallied for a one-shot win. Sorenstam could have forced a playoff but missed a 10-footer for par on the last hole.
Mallon carded a 66 - the second-lowest round of the day - to climb into a tie for seventh at 140. She opened with a 74 that left her eight shots behind Sorenstam.
Diaz also signed for a 68 to move into a tie with Webb (69) and Kerr (70). Jennifer Rosales is alone in fifth at 138.
Webb was in position to shoot a much lower score after birdying Nos. 2-4 to get to three-under. But she played her final 14 holes even, offsetting two birdies with two bogeys.
"I played pretty solidly on the back nine; I just didn't get anything to go," said the Queensland native.
South Korea's Grace Park, who is trying to hold off Mexico's Lorena Ochoa for the Vare Trophy which goes to the player with the lowest scoring average, is tied for 12th. Ochoa is tied for 15th.
Park is second on the money list behind Sorenstam.
11/20/2004 - 04:47 GMT - AFP