LYTHAM ST. ANNE’S, England, 31 July 2003 — Annika Sorenstam is determined to stay patient over the next four days as she bids to win the title she desires most of all, the Women’s British Open.
The 32-year-old needs the title to complete a career Grand Slam (all four available majors), while she also admits that her fantastic career would not be complete without a British Open title.
Not that the fast-running and unpredictable links courses have proved to be the perfect hunting ground for the winner of 45 LPGA titles, including five majors.
“Hopefully, this week I can change that,” she suggested.
“Patience is going to be the key. I would love to win the title and make the Slam, but I can’t force things. The last four holes are going to be the key. They are among the toughest in golf.”
Australia’s Karrie Webb is the defending champion, and on Wednesday she was awarded a replica of the huge Waterford Crystal Trophy in recognition of the fact that she has won the title three times.
But the former world No.1 hasn’t won anywhere since she triumphed at Turnberry last year — by far her longest drought in eight years as a professional — although she did enjoy a confidence boost with a fifth place finish in the Evian Masters in France last week. “For about the first time this year I had four high quality rounds of golf,” she said.
Juli Inkster, who won the Evian title by six shots with a record 21 under par total, heads the American threat, while it will also be a fascinating examination for the surprise winner of this month’s US Women’s Open Champion, Hilary Lunke.
World No. 2 Se Ri Pak, the champion at Sunningdale two years ago, is one of a huge crop of South Korean players in the field, while Patricia Meunier Lebouc has the chance to become the first French player to win two women’s majors.
