SORENSTAM DEFENDS U.S. WOMEN’S
OPEN AS PETTERSEN, PRESSEL SEEK
SECOND MAJOR WIN THIS SEASON

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – The 62nd U.S. Women's Open takes place this week at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. The $3.1 million event is the most prestigious event in women's golf and has produced some memorable outcomes throughout the years.

Annika Sorenstam is back to defend her title after winning her first U.S. Women's Open in 10 years last season. Sorenstam won back-to-back championships in 1995 and 1996, but failed to hoist the trophy again until last year's 18-hole playoff victory over Pat Hurst. The victory was the 10th major win of her career, tying her with the legendary Babe Zaharias for fourth all-time.

The 2007 season has been a new experience for Sorenstam, as she is still looking for her first win this year. This week marks only her sixth LPGA start in 2007 after being out of competition for more than a month after suffering a ruptured disc and bulging disc, which forced her to withdraw from the Ginn OPEN in April. This week is the third event Sorenstam has competed in since the injury and she is coming off a tie for 15th at the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola two weeks ago.

A win this week at Pine Needles would not only give Sorenstam her first victory of 2007 and the 70th of her career, but she would also tie LPGA Founder Louise Suggs with 11 major championship victories, which is only four major wins away from tying Patty Berg's all-time LPGA record of 15. Sorenstam is only the fifth player in LPGA history—and the first since Mickey Wright in 1963—to win double-digit majors in her career.

Sorenstam had a chance to win the tournament in regulation last year, but her 30-foot birdie attempt on the final hole rolled over the right-side lip and settled 18 inches beyond the cup. Hurst made a four-foot par putt to Sorenstam's par, forcing the 18-hole playoff the next morning.

Sorenstam rolled in a six-foot birdie putt on the first hole of the playoff, while Hurst carded a three-putt bogey on the hole, giving Sorenstam a two-stroke advantage. Sorenstam never looked back and finished with three birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under-par 70, while Hurst had one birdie, two bogeys and one double bogey to finish with a 74 (+3).

Rolex Rankings number one Lorena Ochoa will also be hungry for a victory this week. Although she has recorded 12 career victories and has taken over the number one position in the world, she is still looking for her first major championship win. Ochoa, who currently sits atop the LPGA Official Money List, has two top-10 finishes in the first two majors of the year and has also recorded three wins and three runner-up finishes in other events.

Other players who are favorites to compete for the trophy this week include 2007 major championship winners Suzann Pettersen and Morgan Pressel. Pettersen is coming off her first major championship victory at the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola. She became a Rolex First-Time Winner earlier this year at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill and has made more than $1 million in season earnings for the first time in her career.

Pressel became the youngest player in LPGA Tour history to win a major championship at 18 years, 10 months and 9 days with her win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Although Pressel is one of the younger players on Tour, Pine Needles will be familiar territory to the 19-year-old as it was the site of the 2001 U.S. Women's Open when she became the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women's Open history to tee it up at 12 years and 11 months old. Pressel went on to miss the cut that week, however don't count her out this week with all of the experience and success she has gained since then, including a runner-up finish as an amateur at the 2005 U.S. Women's Open.

A first-time winner could also be in store this week, as there have already been six Rolex First-Time Winners this year. The 156-player field will also include 12-year-old Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., who broke Pressel's record last month and became the youngest to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open at 12 years, 4 months and 1 day.