May 11, 2008 - 5:00 PM
0 shoutsWILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- Annika Sorenstam delivered another dominant performance en route to another title.
Sorenstam fired a 5-under-par 66 on Sunday to win the $2.2 million Michelob ULTRA Open.
The former world No. 1, Sorenstam holed seven birdies against two bogeys in her final round Sunday to finish the event at a tournament-record 19-under 265, seven shots ahead of a quartet of players.
It was the second straight title and third this season for Sorenstam, who won her last tournament at the Stanford International Pro-Am two weeks ago.
The 37-year-old Sorenstam finished at 8-under in that event, beating Paula Creamer in a one-hole playoff. But the Swede had much less trouble here at Kingsmill Resort and Spa's River Course, recording just two bogeys en route to taking home the $330,000 first prize.
An eight-time LPGA Player of the Year, Sorenstam battled back and neck injuries throughout last season and did not win a single tour event.
But after winning for the third time in eight appearances this season, Sorenstam feels she has a chance to reclaim the top ranking from current world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who finished tied for 12th at 7-under 277.
"It's great to be back playing good golf again," said Sorenstam, a 10-time major winner who owned the world's top ranking for five years before being overtaken by Ochoa in April 2007.
"Getting back to No. 1 is going to be very tough because Lorena is playing so well. She won a lot of tournaments last year and has five this year. But I'm just enjoying winning again and I'll just take each tournament as it comes."
Sorenstam entered Sunday's final round with a three-shot lead before dropping a stroke on the par-3 second hole.
But Sorenstam birdied Nos. 3 and 6 before reeling off five birdies over an eight-hole stretch from 10-17, easily breaking Karrie Webb's previous tournament record by five shots.
Sorenstam finished comfortably ahead of Karen Stupples, Allison Fouch, Christina Kim and Jeong Jang at 12-under 272.
It was the third top-ten finish and the season's best for the 34-year-old Stupples, who won the 2004 Women's British Open but missed most of last year following the birth of her son.
"I really feel I'm now getting back to my best again," Stupples said. "It's lovely having (my son) with me on tour, but it's also great to be back playing full-time again."
