Golf: Queen of the green

By ANDY FARRELL

Annika Sorenstam had one thought in her head this time last year. She had to improve.

It was not a particularly unusual or original philosophy for a sports person and, indeed, it is positively essential for anyone hoping to reach the top of their sport.

Sorenstam, however, was at the top of her sport and had just had the season of her - or anyone else's - career. She won eight times during last year, became the first player to earn more than US$2 million ($4.04 million) on the LPGA circuit and shot a round of 59.

No one had won eight times on the tour since Nancy Lopez in 1979 but breaking 60 in a competitive round was unique to women's golf.

In all she set or tied 30 LPGA records. She wanted to get better?

"A lot of people said, 'You can't do that'," she said.

"But I was determined I was going to improve."

She has done just that. This year she has 10 LPGA victories to her name and 12 in all tournaments. She has already surpassed her earnings from last year and by the finish of the last event of the season in West Palm Beach next Monday morning, only Kathy Whitworth will ever have had more than her five money titles and five player of the year awards.

"I'm a little in shock, I think," Sorenstam admitted after winning the Mizuno Classic in Japan last week. "I set high goals for myself but sometimes you wonder if you can achieve them."

At other times the 32-year-old Swede only has to be told something cannot be done to set her mind at it. Mickey Wright's 13 wins on the LPGA in 1963 is considered one of those records that will stand for ever. Having won nine of her first 18 events of the season, Sorenstam had the record in her sights entering October.

She cannot do it this year but there is always the future.

"I've got many seasons to come, so we'll see what happens. When you say, 'It may never be broken,' then you might start to believe it. I don't believe in those things.

"It's possible, and that's what keeps me going forward.

"I didn't think about the records until last year when I won eight times and I looked in the books and saw what the other ladies have done. Then this year, I wanted to beat last year. Sometimes I have to pinch myself: is this really happening?

"Obviously, I'm very happy with my career. But you should never say never."

Tiger Woods is considered possibly the most dominant performer in any sport. Yet it is actually debatable whether he is even the most dominant golfer in the world.

But Woods, the Ryder Cup and, in the United States in particular, the row about there being no women members at the Augusta National course have overshadowed Sorenstam's achievements.

There is a difference between the two. It is that Woods is dominant in the majors, whereas Sorenstam is not. She won the Nabisco Championship in March but that was only her fourth major victory, while the 27-year-old Karrie Webb took her sixth at the British Open in August.

It was the rise of Webb to her world No 1 spot that led Sorenstam to undertake a vigorous exercise routine, including up to 500 sit-ups a day, before last year's campaign. She has started working with a new German trainer, Kai Fusser.

"Mostly it's core training, working mostly with weights," she explained. "My training is different now. I practise golf less, and I spend more time in the gym. But I know that if my body is in good shape, I'll be able to swing the club the way I want to."

For her opponents, Sorenstam shows no signs of letting up.

"I've won more this year and I've improved my game in a lot of categories. But I can improve in every area, I believe.

"There are 18 holes out there. I've said before that a (round of) 54 is possible, and that means you birdie every hole. Why should you limit yourself?

"I haven't shot 54, but I've shot 59, and you've got to break some barriers. And winning never gets old. Actually, it makes me want more of it. It's an addictive feeling. I know I have not reached my peak yet so I'm going to push, and see how far I can go."

She revels in a perfectionism that even Nick Faldo might baulk at. Where does it come from?

"I don't know. My parents are more laidback, more social, more party people than I am.

"I've always been a perfectionist in whatever I do."

- INDEPENDENT