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Karrie Webb hits her drive on No. 2.
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Karrie’s Back — With Fire In Her Eye
BY HOWARD WARD Golf Writer
Will Karrie spin a Webb over the U.S. Women’s Open this week? For the past couple of years, it would have been a given that Karrie Webb would have been the favorite when the 150-player field tees it up at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club on Thursday. But a sleek Swedish superstar by the name of Annika Sorenstam has skewed the picture with a dominating performance so far this season.
Will Karrie spin a Webb over the U.S. Women’s Open this week? For the past couple of years, it would have been a given that Karrie Webb would have been the favorite when the 150-player field tees it up at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club on Thursday. But a sleek Swedish superstar by the name of Annika Sorenstam has skewed the picture with a dominating performance so far this season. Webb, the 26-year-old Australian who has been the LPGA Tour Player of the year for the past two years, has been absent for much of this season, taking a much-needed break from the rigors of the Tour. And in her absence, a rededicated Sorenstam has been on a roll, winning five tournaments and more than $1 million in official money. But now it’s U.S. Open time, and Webb is returning to the fray with fire in her eyes and a renewed vigor. “Í feel that I’m ready,” Webb said after a practice round on Tuesday. “I feel that my game is in as good a shape as it’s been in all year. “I put in a really hard-working week last week and I feel it’s really coming into shape. Hopefully, it’s going to peak sometime Thursday afternoon through Sunday. That would be good.” For her maybe, but not for the rest of the field. When Webb gets her game hitting on all cylinders, no one is better. Still, she isn’t about to predict a victory in the U.S. Open, not for herself or anyone else. Not even Sorenstam. “I don’t look at favorites,” she said, frowning at the term. “I think that everyone who tees it up has a chance to win. If I pick one of two people out, then someone is going to come up from behind me and take everyone by surprise. “So I look at everyone as being capable of beating me. That way I’m not taking anyone for granted and I’m going to put 110 percent into it. At the end of the week if someone is better than me, then I can’t do anything about it.” Downplays Rivalry That’s pretty much the attitude Webb takes about the perceived rivalry between her and Sorenstam. In her opinion, that rivalry is a lot hotter in the media than it is in person. “People think of it as a rivalry because for the last five-and-a-half years, one of us has finished on top or near the top of the money list,” she said. “Since we’ve both been out here, neither of us has finished worse than fourth. “I guess it seems that there’s a rivalry in that we’ve both played so well for such a long period of time. We’re bound to look like rivals because we’re always trying for the trophies. And there have been a few tournaments when we’ve been in the last group together. “But I think that’s as far as it goes. Obviously, Annika has told people that my last couple of years have motivated her to get her game in better shape and play better. And her play motivates me.
“But I don’t think I can work any harder on my game. I know there’s always room for improvement, and I’m constantly trying to do that. But no matter what Annika’s doing, I’m going to be doing what I’m doing. The fact that she’s having the kind of year she’s having does make me want to get back to it sooner rather than later.” Webb takes a philosophical approach to Sorenstam’s sensational start. She knows that her winnings for the season total $343,588 and no trophies. And she knows that Sorenstam has five titles and $1,013,890. Webb has played in nine events with a stroke average of 70.42. Sorenstam has played in 10 events and averaged 68.82 strokes per round. “I have no control over what Annika has done, believe it or not. She did that all on her own. But I didn’t expect to be the No. 1 player every single year I was out here. I know that some people expect that of the top athletes, but for me, personally, I don’t believe that’s a possibility, as much as I would like it. I’ve just been fortunate enough to have two really successful years. And this year isn’t over by any means.” Webb is right in feeling that she would be foolish to ignore players other than Sorenstam, of course. There are several others in the field who have the talent to take the championship. Juli Inkster won the Open in 1999 and has already won once this season. Rosie Jones was the first American player to win on the LPGA Tour a few weeks ago and obviously likes this area. She won the LPGA Pinewild Women’s Championship in 1995 and is playing well. Other Possibilities Lori Kane, a Canadian who won in Hawaii earlier this year, is certainly capable and has had six top 10 finishes already. Se Ri Pak has won twice this year and already owns a U.S. Open trophy, having won in a playoff in 1998. Dottie Pepper hasn’t won yet, but is playing well enough to have three second-place finishes this season and is ranked third on the money list. “All I can do is work hard and put 100 percent into it,” Webb said. “If things work out in my favor, that’s great. If they don’t, then it’s someone else’s turn.” |
