Sorenstam seeking that extra spark

US Women's Open: In a slump? For Annika Sorenstam, it may seem that way. The 36-year-old Swede, who has been the dominant player on the women's tour for over a decade, heads into this week's US Women's Open at Newport, Rhode Island, on the back of a season that has seen her win once and finish in the top-10 on seven occasions but still admitting, "I have not played great, and I am not even playing close to what I did last year."

This time last year, Sorenstam arrived at the US Women's Open having already annexed the season's first two majors, the Nabisco Kraft and the LPGA, in a run that saw her claim six tournament titles and seeking to maintain her quest for the so-called "Soren-Slam." She failed in that particular bid, but still had a year where she won no fewer than 10 tournaments and confirmed her status as the world's undisputed number one.

This year, two of her old foes, Kerrie Webb and Se Ri Pak, have stolen Sorenstam's thunder by winning the opening two majors of the year and teenager Michelle Wie, now a professional, and playing in the US Women's Open on a special exemption, has grabbed even more of the limelight. It is the first time since 2000 that Sorenstam, who has nine major titles in her career, has come to the US Women's Open without winning one of the season's first two majors.

"I think this season has been a little bit of a roller coaster," said Sorenstam, speaking in a teleconference call. She finished tied for sixth at Nabisco and ninth at the LPGA Championship. "It has been very sporadic - some good rounds, some not so good rounds. I am actually continuing to practice on the stuff that I always do - seeing my coach as regular as I used to."

Last year Sorenstam was a combined 81-under-par in eight starts. This year she is 50-under in nine tournaments and she even missed her first cut since 2002 at the Michelob Ultra Open. Her stroke average this year is 70.13, fifth on tour, well off her 69.33 average that led the LPGA in 2005 when she led the tour in greens in regulation and putting, and she was 12th in driving accuracy. In 2006 she has slipped from 77 to 72 per cent in greens hit (ranking 10th), lost 10 per cent off her driving accuracy (70 per cent) to slip to 59th in that category, and while her putts per green average is virtually identical (1.75 to 1.76), her total putting ranks only 58th on tour.

"I'm one of a few players that won this year, so I think, in a way, I take it as a compliment because I have set the standard very high," said Sorenstam.

The women's professional game, at least in America, has taken off with so many newcomers, among them the likes of Wie and Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer, arriving onto the scene; although it is a tad ironic that, with these new arrivals, the season's two opening majors should go to two players, Webb and Pak, enjoying a resurgence in form.

"I definitely appreciate and enjoy this stretch of golf a lot more than probably any good stretch of golf I've played in my career," said Webb of her return to form."

Meanwhile, Mexican Lorena Ochoa, who has won twice and had seven other top-10 finishes in 12 outings, is quietly enjoying the best season of anyone, man or woman.

Then, there is the Wie phenomenon. The Hawaiian teenager contended down the stretch in both the Nabisco and the LPGA, where only a heavy hand on the putt cost her the chance to win a first major in her rookie season as a professional. The women's committee of the USGA extended a special exemption to Wie, along with Kelly Robbins, runner-up in the event two years ago.

However, players' preparations for the US Women's Open have been hampered by bad weather and the course was closed yesterday. It is expected, however, that the championship will commence as planned on Thursday.