Sorenstam leads Sweden to World Cup victory

Sorenstam leads Sweden to World Cup victory

SUN CITY, South Africa -- Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann cruised to a three-stroke victory at the Women's World Cup of Golf on Sunday.

Sorenstam, the world No. 1, carded a 70 while Neumann battled for a 77 to give a combined 7-under 281. They are the second winners of the event after Japan in 2005.

"I could not have asked for a better start to 2006 and I hope we'll be able to come back and defend our title next year," said Sorenstam, who said she is now looking forward to going on a safari followed by a skiing holiday.

The Scottish pair of Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie finished second at 4-under 284 on another tough day at the par-72 Gary Player Country Club.

Matthew recorded a 69, the low round of the day in singles, while Moodie produced an even-par 72 for a combined total of 3-under on the day to lift the Scots from seventh.

Wales, represented by Becky Brewerton and Becky Morgan, finished third at even par after both players shot 2-over 74s.

The United States, with Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis each shooting 73, was fourth, eight strokes behind the Swedes.

Sweden and Scotland were the only teams to cope in the increasingly challenging conditions, where thick rough and fast greens contributed to some woeful scoring.

Starting the day at 10 under, Sweden played solidly through the front nine with Sorenstam going out in 35 and Neumann in 37.

"I struggled a bit today," Neumann said. "Especially after the turn when I made bogeys on 11, 12 and 13, but Annika's eagle on the 14th gave us some breathing room."

Sorenstam produced two birdies, the first at the par-5 second and the next at the par-5 ninth after making a bogey on the difficult par-4 eighth where she had a near impossible chip from a greenside bunker.

Fortunately for the Swedes, only Scotland made a run at them, but they started the day nine shots behind and could never close the gap sufficiently.

Matthew produced three birdies in a row from the par-3 seventh, which Moodie also birdied, to move them to 5 under -- the lowest they managed.

South Korea's Bo Bae Song and Meena Lee, Sweden's nearest rivals at the beginning of the round, fell apart with a combined total of 9 over, while Finland and Colombia also struggled.

The Swedes endured a slight wobble after the turn with four bogeys in four holes to drop to 6 under before Sorenstam steadied the decline with her eagle on the par-5 14th after a superb 5-iron to 8 feet.

"I always look at the leaderboard," Sorenstam said. "On the 15th I saw that Scotland were doing well and I wasn't sure if they were finished or not, but we hung in there."

Sweden received a winner's check of $220,000, while Scotland took home $160,000.

Source: Reuters Sports News