SPRINT TITLEHOLDERS CHAMPIONSHIP

May 4, 1997

Annika Sorenstam

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yes. Hole No. 3, hit 4-iron to 13 feet. Birdie there. Birdied No. 5. Let us see. Sand wedge to four feet. Birdie, No. 9, sand wedge to twelve feet. Birdie No. 13, sandwedge to seven feet. Birdie No. 14, hit 8-iron to two inches. Birdied No. 18, hit 5-iron in. 2-putted from 30 feet.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It looked very close, if you will look at the spike mark; it must have rolled maybe on the edge.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I didn't think I had a chance this morning. I was 8 shots behind. I figured all I am going to do is give it all I got. And after 9, I looked at the leaderboard I said, "Oh, I might have a chance here today." So I played a little bit more aggressive on the back 9. Went for a few more putts. But, overall, I think I have been hitting the ball really good - I think the best I have ever hit it this week. Just a matter of putts dropping here or there and today was -- they were more on my side and they just fell in.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I look at the leaderboard every time I see it, but that is when I made my third birdie, I was at minus 9 at the time, so I figured there was a good chance.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I think so. I gave it all -- obviously, you like to make every single putt, but I didn't miss a short putt today. I might have missed a putt that was eight feet, that was about it. Other than that, I felt I gave it all. And, this is all I got.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think so. Like I said earlier, I am striking the ball much better I have had the previous tournaments. It is just matter of putting everything together. Beginning of the year, I putted extremely well. And I shot low scores. And, then the past few weeks I have been hitting the ball. I just haven't made any putts. But, today, it all came together. I guess it does finalize my year a little bit.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, I got a week off.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I am going to relax. Just do nothing. But, actually, I promised my husband I will putt an hour everyday. So, maybe I will be ready for McDonald's.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, on No. 1, I had a 15-footer for birdie. No. 2, I had an another 15-footer. Let us see here. No. 6 I did have -- that was about 16 feet. On the front 9.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I didn't feel like it, no. I hit 16 greens. I made an up-and-down on 17. That was probably my longest putt for par was three feet.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I went up in the booth. On the 18th I saw Tammie on 15, 16 and 17.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I just sit there and watch. You can't determine golf. It is not like, "Oh, 17 is such a difficult hole; she is going to bogey that one," or, "No, she might hit a good shot two feet from the hole." I just sit and watch. You can birdie any hole out here. You can bogey any hole out here.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I tried to hit as close I could on my second shot. I hit 5-iron in and I pushed it a little bit and I ended up, like I said, 30 feet away. So, I mean, I tried to make it, but I still want to make sure I make birdie there because again Tammie had four holes left and they are not easy. This wind is so strong.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't know how long it was. But I think I had 195 left.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Thank you.