Frustrated Sorenstam near tears

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune

Annika Sorenstam watched her tee shot on the back nine Saturday afternoon. She shot a 72 for the day and is tied for 13th place.

The world's No. 2-ranked player is playing well from tee to green, but her putter has deserted her and she admits she doesn't know what to do.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: June 28, 2008 - 10:10 PM

Annika Sorenstam stepped onto a podium for her postround interview Saturday and left little doubt about how her putting has affected her emotions in the U.S. Women's Open this weekend.

"I'm about to cry," she said. "When you do everything you can and it just doesn't happen. ... I cannot hit the ball any better. I cannot put myself in a better position. I really don't know what to do."

Sorenstam's stoic demeanor melted away following another round filled with beautiful shots and agonizing putts. Her 1-under-par 72 left her 2 under for the tournament and seven shots off the lead entering today's final round at Interlachen Country Club.

Barring a remarkable comeback today, Sorenstam's final U.S. Open before retirement will be remembered for what might have been. She has been rock solid tee to green but dreadful with the putter.

She has hit a whopping 98 putts through three rounds -- and that doesn't include zero putts on the ninth hole Saturday.

Sorenstam's missed 3-foot birdie putt on No. 18 Saturday served as a perfect example of how things have gone for the world's No. 2-ranked player this weekend.

Sorenstam has put herself in position to score low all three rounds, but she has failed to close the deal once she's on the green.

"It's almost like it's teasing me," she said. "You can get pars, but we won't give you birdies. That's how it feels."

Sorenstam missed a handful of birdie putts inside 10 feet again Saturday. If that sounds like a broken record, well, it is. Sorenstam has had numerous birdie chances throughout the tournament, but she has made only nine in three rounds, two coming on Saturday.

The miss on No. 18 drew groans from the large crowd gathered around the green.

"That's not the only birdie I left out there," she said. "I've probably left a dozen, maybe two dozen in three days. I'm just very, very disappointed because I think I'm doing the right things and it's just not happening. I really don't know what to do."

She had one bright idea: She just avoided the whole putting thing on the tricky No. 9 by making birdie with a pitching wedge from the bottom of the steep hill. Positioned well below the green, Sorenstam's shot went past the hole up the slope and rolled back into the cup, drawing perhaps the loudest roar of the tournament.

"When I got to the hill I saw it was tracking to the hole," she said. "To make a birdie on that tough hole and be 2 under making the turn, you feel really good then."

It was short-lived, however. Sorenstam made nothing but pars on the back, which included a 20-foot putt on the difficult No. 17. Sorenstam pumped her fist, then tossed her ball to a young boy sitting near the green.

But she failed to make a much easier putt on the next hole, which nearly brought her to tears after the round.

"I'm not giving up, I'll tell you that," she said. "I'm still in striking [distance] and I'm not giving up yet. Maybe I'm just saving it for [today]."