SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – In what likely feels like another life, Annika Sorenstam would’ve found another gear. Maybe two gears.
But now, 14 years removed her last LPGA major, the mother of two and full-time businesswoman is out of gears. She has learned to roll with what she has, and in the opening round of the 77th U.S. Women’s Open, her best of the day resulted in a 3-over 74. She’ll have her work cut out Friday to make the cut in her first LPGA major since 2008.
“I don’t get as mad as I used to,” she said. “I kind of bounce it off. By the end of the day, the kids want to do something, I probably have to cook dinner, just all those things that I enjoy doing off the golf course. I can’t get upset anymore.”
Sorenstam, who won her second of three U.S. Women’s Opens at Pine Needles in 1996, earned her way into the field this week via her victory at the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open. The 10-time major winner is here because. she loved the matriarch of Pine Needles, the late Peggy Kirk Bell, and because Sorenstam’s family wanted to her play. Sorenstam also wanted to tee it up alongside all the players who have grown up competing in her junior events and winning awards that are named after her.
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In that respect, the day couldn’t have possibly gone better. Swedish amateur Ingrid Lindblad, who won the ANNIKA Invitational in 2019, played alongside Sorenstam as she carded a 6-under 65, the lowest round by an amateur in championship history. She also leads the field by two.
“She fist-pumped me for a few birdies,” said a smiling Lindblad, “and it was fun.”
In her prime, Sorenstam was singularly focused inside the ropes. Now, she’s a master at multi-tasking, worrying about whether or not her two kids, Will and Ava, are drinking enough water and re-applying sunblock.
“There’s a lot of thoughts going in, and then it’s like, OK, trigger,” said Sorenstam, snapping her fingers. “Now you’ve got to play; you’ve got to hit a hybrid.”
But, that’s why the 72-time LPGA winner is here in the first place. To make new memories at an old, familiar place.
On Wednesday, Sorenstam and her husband fielded a rare call from 11-year-old Will during their practice round at Pine Needles. He’d aced the fifth hole at The Cradle at Pinehurst from 50 yards. Sorenstam got a blow-by-blow account several times that night.
“He has a friend in Nevada, Mason, and Mason is a good player,” said Sorenstam. “Mason hasn’t had a hole-in-one I’ve just found out.
“Joshua Poulter has not had a hole-in-one, either. He was first and I got to hear that a few times. We’re making memories in different ways.”
Sorenstam won’t leave anything out there Friday at Pine Needles. She has nothing to lose. But she also knows there are some holes that won’t allow her to be aggressive as she tries to make the cut.
The 51-year-old is one of two players over 40 in the field of 156, joined by 44-year-old Angela Stanford. She’s the only one who competed in three previous Women’s Opens hosted at Pine Needles.
After the round, Sorenstam thought she might go practice after lunch if the weather had cooled down enough.
“Unless my kids want to go to The Cradle again,” she said. “Then we’ll have to see. Otherwise they’ll have to cradle me some more.”
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