May 09

Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa neck and neck at the Michelob Ultra Open

Take a look at the leaderboard at the Michelob Ultra Open, and you might think you’re looking at the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

The world’s two best women golfers are currently leading the pack, with Annika at 12 under, Lorena three strokes behind at 9 under. It’s a real live showdown, folks.

The pair have finished 1st and 2nd at two other tournaments this season, but Ochoa’s always gotten the best of Annika, by five strokes at the Kraft Nabisco, and by eleven at the HSBC Women’s Champions. Annika’s two victories this season, meanwhile, have both come on weekends when Ochoa opted to stay home. Is Annika, with her bogey-free scorecard, going to turn this trend around and show Ochoa who’s boss?

Joining them in their group tomorrow will be former major winner Jeong Jang, who’s currently tied for second with Ochoa. Interestingly, the third player in their threesome for the first two rounds was none other than Suzann Pettersen, number three in the current world rankings. “Doesn’t seem like it’s random, does it,” quipped Sorenstam of the pairing.

Neither Sorenstam nor Ochoa have ever won the Michelob Ultra Open, although Ochoa’s come close as a three-time runner-up. Something tells me she’s not interested in playing for second this time around.

? Saturday: ESPN2 2:00-4:00 PM ET
? Sunday: ESPN2 2:00-4:00 PM ET

« Annika Sorenstam says: no more golf for me, thanks, I'm done

Annika Sorenstam takes advantage of Paula Creamer's mistakes and Lorena Ochoa's absence to win her 71st victory »

8 comments

§ Brandon Tucker® said on : 05/09/08 @ 22:59
It was almost enough to knock Michelle Wie's missing the cut out of the news...almost...ah well. Hopefully Annika or Paula can be a bonafide No. 2 for the Ocho.
§ Joe Cool said on : 05/09/08 @ 23:17
"I just feel really rusty," she said after making a birdie on the final hole to finish even on the day. "I feel like I just need to play more. ... I feel like I can get it back."

Hmmm, does that sound familar?
§ Alex said on : 05/10/08 @ 09:34
Golf announcers on both the Golf Channel and ESPN just can't seem to resist the temptation to comment about Bubbles, no matter how lackluster her play. Some of the commentary borders on the surreal, and much is outright prevarication.

Yesterday, one announcer said that Bubbles was so severely injured last year that she shouldn't have played at all. He went on further that she was recovering from wrist surgery.

Another genius offered that Bubbles was merely a part time golfer while being a full time student at Stanford. He then corrected himself by saying that Bubbles was taking some time off from school, not that she had in fact dropped out of Stanford.

Judy Rankin said that Bubbles needs to play more competitive golf, but never mentioned how this would happen. Judy didn't say that Bubbles carefully avoided "Q" school or that she should get in some additional play on the Duramed tour or the LET.

What doesn't seem to occur to these so-called experts is that except for a brief period two years ago, Bubbles has never accomplished anything of note. They can't bring themselves to the realization that Bubbles just isn't as good as they would like her to be, that she is just another ordinary young golfer with a little bit of promise. In fact, several young golfers have left her in the dust.

Alex USMC 1969-73
§ John D said on : 05/11/08 @ 06:47
Go Annika or Paula ! ! !
§ Shanks® said on : 05/12/08 @ 09:44
Hopefully, before the year is out, we will be treated to a Sorenstam/Ochoa duel on Sunday in a major championship when they are both hitting on all cylinders. That would be something special.
§ Alex said on : 05/12/08 @ 12:38
Shanks,

Since it would still be women's golf, it would be about as exciting as a Fischer-Spassky chess match.

Alex USMC 1969-73
§ Shanks® said on : 05/12/08 @ 14:37
Alex - for a hater of the woman's pro tour, you sure do watch a lot of it. (I presume that to be the case because you don't strike me as someone who would complain about something he did not see.)
§ BV said on : 05/12/08 @ 16:53
Annika had a pretty darn good day, it looks like. Kudos and congrats!

I DID check the leaderboard...looked in vain for Ms Wie...then found her name in the 'missed the cut' section. She sure doesn't appear to be making much of her "time off" from college.