GOLF
Sorenstam drops four shots back in finale
Third-round 75 knocks her out of Dubai lead
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Annika Sorenstam shot a 3-over 75 Saturday, hurting her chances of ending a stellar career by winning the Dubai Ladies Masters for a third straight time.
Sorenstam held a one-shot advantage going into the third round but had four bogeys and one birdie to fall four shots behind leader Anja Monke of Germany.
Monke shot 68 for a 9-under 207 total, two shots ahead of Iben Tinning of Denmark (70) and Veronica Zorzi of Italy (71) heading into today’s final round (6:30 p. m., Golf Channel).
Sorenstam, a winner of 72 LPGA titles and 10 major championships, plans to retire after this tournament.
“I am not giving up,” Sorenstam said. “I just walked off the course disappointed, but I will be ready for tomorrow. I really don’t know what emotions I will have tomorrow. It’s nothing that I have practiced before.
“It’s a day we all knew was coming and it’s now here within 24 hours. So, I will just embrace it and go with the emotions.”
Zorzi could have tied for the lead but she was handed a two-stroke penalty for failing to replace her ball in the right spot after it moved on the 15th green.
Sorenstam made her only birdie of the day on the par-5 third hole, and then followed it with four bogeys.
“It was a tough day,” she said. “I really don’t know what to say other than nothing really happened today. I thought I hit some good shots, but just could not get anything going. It’s just golf.”
Monke is chasing her second Ladies European Tour title, but said she wouldn’t be too disappointed if Sorenstam manages to overtake her.
“She is my idol, and an idol for every girl that touches a golf club,” Monke said. “If she plays well and wins tomorrow, I will be really happy for her.”
Laura Davies of Britain shot 71, tied for fourth with Sophie Gustafson of Sweden.
Perry-Hoch shoot 60
NAPLES, Fla. — Kenny Perry had eight birdies and an eagle and he and partner Scott Hoch finished with a 12-under 60 in the better-ball format at the second round of the Merrill Lynch Shootout.
They hold a four-shot lead over J. B. Holmes and Boo Weekley at the Tiburon Golf Club.
“I don’t think I’ve ridden a horse that hard in a long time, and he just kept on galloping,” said Hoch, who admitted his left wrist has been bothering him.
“If I have to drag him across the finish line, I will,” Perry said.
The two teams were tied until Perry and Hoch birdied No. 16, Perry made an 8-footer for eagle on No. 17, and 10-footer for birdie on No. 18. Perry hit a 5-iron from 220 yards on No. 17, and a gap wedge from 115 yards on No. 18.
“It’s fun to watch Kenny play right now,” Hoch said. “He’s really playing well. I just feel fortunate enough to help him on a few holes.”
U. S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger and Rocco Mediate, the U. S. Open runner-up, tied the second-best round of the day with a 62, and are at 135 entering today’s final round (3 p. m., Ch. 2).
Holmes and Weekley, who both played with Perry on the U. S. Ryder Cup team, made one birdie and four pars in the last five holes.
First-round leaders Nick Price and Jeff Sluman are third at 14-under 130 after a 66.
Price’s approach on No. 18 hit the flagstick, bounced back and rolled down to the front of the green.
Today’s format is a scramble. The 12 two-man teams played modified alternate shot on Friday.
Only one team has come back from a four-shot deficit in the tournament’s 19-year history. In 2003, Hank Kuehne and Jeff Sluman were four back of Perry and Hoch, and came back to win a three-way playoff.
“I don’t think the lead is ever safe enough in this format, the scramble format,” Perry said. “It’s really not.”
Holmes and Weekley birdied four of their first six holes, before leveling off for a 62.
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