Golf: Built in the Armstrong mould

Should Annika Sorenstam successfully defend her title at the British Open, which started today, the Swedish world No 1 would join Tiger Woods with eight major championships to her credit.

But who wants to be compared to Tiger these days? Tour de France champion cyclist Lance Armstrong would be a better fit.

"We are all human beings. We all go through ruts," said Meg Mallon, the US Women's Open champion.

"But Annika does not let that happen, a lot like Lance Armstrong.

"Even Jack Nicklaus finished out of the top 20 quite a bit. You're seeing Tiger's problems right now. Karrie Webb had an amazing three-year stretch, but the longevity of Annika's streak is incredible. She makes it look so easy that people don't appreciate it. The rest of us know how hard it is."

To defeat Sorenstam takes an exceptional performance and the 41-year-old Mallon did just that with a final round of 65 to the Swede's 67 at last month's US Open.

Last week, at the Evian Masters in France, Wendy Doolan produced a spell of seven under for five holes in doing the unthinkable and overtaking Sorenstam on the last day.

"It was close last week but there is not much you can do when someone has a wonderful stretch like that," Sorenstam said.

"I am more fired up this week because it is a really big tournament and I feel I am playing well. I am ready to go. I can't hit the ball much better."

Sorenstam won last year at Royal Lytham after a thrilling duel with Se Ri Pak, who won the Open the last time it was here at Sunningdale in 2001.

Laura Davies, who has been waiting a long time to repeat her 1986 triumph, Karen Stupples, the only European other than Sorenstam to win in the US this year, and Catriona Matthew, of Scotland, lead the home challenge.

Sorenstam, on her first visit to Britain this year, was finally able to collect the Golf Writers' Trophy, having been nominated as the European player who had made the "most outstanding contribution to golf" in 2003.

During the year she heralded a new era of women playing against the men, won two majors, including a first British Open, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

This season she has won five times in 12 events, been runner-up three times and has not finished worse than 13th.

- INDEPENDENT