Sorenstam conquers Mizuno

OTSU, Japan - Annika Sorenstam realized she might not get another chance to make history at the Mizuno Classic. Like so many other times, she came through with her best golf.

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Sorenstam birdied four of the final five holes Sunday and closed with 8-under-par 64 in a steady drizzle, winning by three shots to become the first player in LPGA Tour history to win the same tournament five consecutive times.

Another trophy, another milestone.

"I had the chance to do something today that nobody else has done, so of course I felt some pressure all week," Sorenstam said. "That is what motivates me. That is why I play this game. To come here and do something like this, it's just very gratifying."

No one on the PGA Tour had ever won a tournament five consecutive times, either. Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen have won the same event four consecutive times. On the women's tour, Laura Davies won the Standard Register Ping in Arizona four times in a row.

Sorenstam finished at 21-under 195 and earned $150,000, pushing her season total to over $2.3 million.

Jennifer Rosales closed with 66 to finish three shots behind. Young Kim, who had a one-shot lead going into the final round, shot 70 and tied for third at 16-under 200 with Yuri Fudoh and Sophie Gustafson, who earned enough money to move into the top 30 on the money list.

After the second round Saturday, Kim boldly predicted that 6 under in the final round would be enough to secure her first LPGA Tour victory. When that was mentioned to Sorenstam, she arched her brow as if to say, "Oh, really?"

"I love the challenge, and I love coming down the stretch and making the shots you need to," Sorenstam said. "It's just the extra excitement, knowing there are just a few holes left and having to hit the perfect shot. That's when all my adrenaline starts kicking in, on the back nine because that's when it matters."

She now has 10 victories this year and 65 in her Hall of Fame career. The Mizuno Classic holds special meaning from having won it a record fifth straight time.

"I think it is one of the biggest things I've done, it shows a lot of consistency," she said. "For me to be able to do it again, knowing what was at stake, I think was very important.

"This is something that no one else has ever done so it is going to rank right up there."