Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam fired a 10-under 62 in Illinois on Sunday to turn a five-shot deficit into a two-shot triumph in the US$1.3 million State Farm Classic.
Sorenstam captured her third LPGA title of the season, her 19-under total of 269 putting her two shots in front of American Christie Kerr.
"To come from five behind and win by two, it's pretty amazing," Sorenstam said. "It's something that I'm going to remember for quite some time."
PHOTO: AP
Sweden's Maria Hjorth, who started the day with a one-shot lead, ended up a further stroke adrift alongside South Koreans Lee Seon-Hwa and Chung Il-Mi.
Sorenstam, who was playing in this event for the first time since a runner-up finish in 2001, wasted no time in launching her last-round comeback.
She birdied her first three holes and added another at the fifth. She cooled down with five straight pars before really turning up the heat on Hjorth and Kerr down the stretch.
"I got off to a really good start," Sorenstam said. "I just thought, `Keep on going and it's going to happen.'"
Sorenstam posted back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 and again at the 14th and 15th.
With both Hjorth and Kerr hanging around, Sorenstam put an exclamation point on her spectacular round with another brace of birdies at 17 and 18.
"I got really hot on the back side," Sorenstam said. "To finish with four birdies on the last five, that will do it a lot of times. It was fun to do it on a Sunday when I needed it."
Her birdie at the last came from the fringe 20-feet behind the hole.
Sorenstam's putt found the heart of the hole and capped a stellar run of golf.
Kerr started the day two behind Hjorth, and said she couldn't be disappointed with an effort that included six birdies and one bogey.
"I played really well and feel good about my performance today," Kerr said. "When things are meant to go your way, they do, and she is a hell of a player. She's awesome."
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