The Hindu : Sorenstam sets her sights high

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 03, 2004

Sport

Sport - Golf

Sorenstam sets her sights high

LOS ANGELES, APRIL 2. After a disappointing finish in the first LPGA major of the year, Annika Sorenstam has set her sights on three-fourths of a Grand Slam.

The LPGA's six-time player of the year couldn't recover from a second-round 76 and finished tied for 13th in last week's Kraft Nabisco, eight strokes behind winner Grace Park.

``The reason I set four majors as my goal is that it's something that's never been achieved and that's what keeps me motivated: To do something I've never done,'' Sorenstam said on Thursday. ``I'm disappointed about that, but I have to move on. Now I want to win three majors.''

Sorenstam believes setting lofty goals keeps her competitive. She has six majors — including last year's LPGA Championship and the Women's British Open to wrap up a career Grand Slam — among her 49 titles.

At 33, she's already won her way into the LPGA Hall of Fame. ``There are always goals to find,'' said Sorenstam, who opens the defence of her Office Depot Championship on Friday at El Caballero Country Club. ``If I wake up one day and I don't have natural goals or I don't feel motivated or I don't feel excited, well, then it's time to do something else.

``Since I didn't achieve this (2004 Grand Slam), then it's in the back of my mind. I still enjoy playing, that's for sure.''

Always looking for new challenges, Sorenstam found a significant test when she played against the men in the Colonial last year, the first woman since 1945 to compete on the PGA Tour. She shot 71-75 to miss the cut, but certainly didn't embarrass herself.

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