Poor putting still haunts Sorenstam

She shot a 3-under-par 70, but missing some easy putts prevented the No. 2-ranked player from making a serious run at the leaders.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: June 27, 2008 - 10:11 PM

Annika Sorenstam's putter continued to fail her at times in the second round of the U.S. Women's Open on Friday, but she finished five shots better than her first round and left herself within striking distance despite taking the same number of putts as the previous day.

Her round could have and should have been even better if not for that darn putter.

"I'm excited about playing," said Sorenstam, the world's No. 2-ranked player who is competing in her final U.S. Women's Open before retiring. "I love the course. I think I'm hitting the ball as good as I can. I'm just going to work on a few things with my putter, and I'm really looking forward to the weekend."

Sorenstam shot a 3-under-par 70 on Friday to enter the weekend at 1 under for the tournament, five shots off the lead.

Sorenstam has been mostly solid from tee to green the first two days, but her putting has been the No. 1 topic each day. She needed 33 putts in each of the first two rounds, and her putting kept a good round Friday from being wonderful.

She missed two makeable eagle putts, including a 5-footer on No. 18. She made birdie but still ...

Asked if there was something tricky about the putt, Sorenstam shook her head. "No, there wasn't much in it," she said.

Sorenstam pumped her fist emphatically after making a bending 10-footer for birdie at the difficult No. 9 hole.

"That was a great putt," she said. "I am going to try and visualize that this weekend. It's kind of what I'm looking for."

Sorenstam remains happy with everything else in her game. She hit 15 greens and 12 fairways Friday, leaving herself plenty of good chances.

Her only real hiccup came on the treacherous No. 17. Sorenstam pulled her driver and hit a tree. Then her shot out of the left rough clipped another tree and traveled 30 yards. That forced her to scramble to make bogey.

"That's just a tough hole in general," she said.

Nothing has dampened the reception she has received at Interlachen Country Club. Playing with Paula Creamer and Suzann Pettersen, Sorenstam has been greeted warmly by jam-packed galleries that are clearly hoping to witness a memorable performance in her final Open.

"You're walking out there and you hear everybody saying, 'Thanks for the memories, thank you for what you've done,'" Creamer said of the pro-Sorenstam reception.

Sorenstam did her part, too, by wearing purple and gold colors Friday. Asked if her color choice was a coincidence, Sorenstam acted coy.

"Do you think it's luck?" she asked. "There's a reason why I'm wearing it. Other than it is my Annika Collection."