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Sorenstam takes Keebler with a three-stroke lead

Annika Sorenstam, playing in her first LPGA Tour event since her historic rounds at the Colonial, breezed to a three-stroke victory in the Kellogg-Keebler Classic on Sunday.

Though she bogeyed her final two holes, she'd built up such a big lead it hardly mattered. She finished with a 1-under 71, giving her a 17-under 199 for the 54-hole tournament.

"Obviously I'm very, very pleased," she said. "It's been a great week, and to come back and perform the way I did is pretty much incredible."

Mhairi McKay had four birdies on the back nine, but a triple-bogey on the front had all but ended her chances. McKay shot even par, finishing three strokes back at 14-under 202. It was Sorenstam's second win this year on the LPGA Tour -- her 44th overall. Sorenstam earned US$180,000 with the win, putting her in first place on the money list with US$734,501.

Though Sorenstam missed the cut at the Colonial, her grace under unbelievable pressure won her millions of fans worldwide. And many were out in force Sunday. More than 22,000 people came out for the final round -- most just to see Sorenstam. They wore the now-familiar "Go Annika!" buttons, and followed her from hole to hole as if she was the Pied Piper.

As she walked up the fairway on the fourth hole, a group of kids on the balcony of one of the huge homes lining the course screamed, "We love you, Annika." Sorenstam grinned and waved at them as the crowd laughed.

Even tournament volunteers got in on the lovefest. They followed her up the 18th fairway, a sea of red the backdrop for her victory. When she made her final putt, she skipped backward with a big grin on her face and tossed her ball into the crowd.
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