Stop the Presses

Annika Sorenstam missed the cut at the Michelob Ultra Open. This was the first time that had happened since 2002. Annika had made 68 straight cuts.

The talk of a slump by Annika may be coming true. I think its part impossible expectations some have for her, part that she is at the age even the best golfers start to decline, there is also alot of competition out there every week. Who knows maybe there are off the course matters. Annika has a new love in her life. Maybe she'd like to have a family. This could be a distraction but a good one.

Slump or no slump Annika is still formidable. Just look where she is on the money list.

Open Post- Adam's Blog, Bright & Early,

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Annika Sorenstam had two hours to wait after finishing play to see if the golf course that had frustrated her again would help keep her in the Michelob Ultra Open for the weekend by doing the same to others. "We'll see. It's a long day left," she said.

Not long enough. With a second straight 2-over-par 73 Friday, the top player in women's golf missed the cut for the first time since 2002. She finished in a tie for 72nd, with the top 71 players continuing into Saturday on the 6,306-yard layout.

Sorenstam had made 68 consecutive cuts before enduring a second straight day with a balky putter, even as playing partners Karrie Webb and Cristie Kerr did well.

Webb, the first-round leader, is at 8-under 134 after a 68 and leads Kerr by one shot and Pat Hurst by two. Kerr shot a 66, and Hurst had her second consecutive 68.

For Sorenstam, who had finished no better than sixth in three prior appearances at the $2.2 million event, it marked only the second time in 143 events that she failed to make the cut, dating to June 1999, and the first time in 198 non-major events. The last time she missed the cut in a non-major was the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in July 1994.

Sorenstam started the day tied for 68th, but appeared poised to make a push into contention when she made consecutive birdies on the second and third holes.

"I was hoping it was going to turn around. I really was," she said. "But then it just kept on going the way it's been going. Obviously, I'm very disappointed."

Her putter, known for being streaky, didn't stay hot long.

She immediately gave a shot back on the par-4 4th, missing a 5-footer to the right. She made bogeys at the par-4 6th and 9th holes, each time needing three shots to get down from the back fringe, and missed a short putt for another bogey at No. 10.

That put her at 4 over, well outside the cut line, and left tour officials pouring over the record books to help put some perspective on her potential failure.

A birdie at No. 12 brought her closer, but she gave that back, too.

"This year, it's really not going my way at all, so I've got to keep on going, keep on grinding. It's all I can do," Sorenstam said. "I've just got to keep on working."

Sorenstam had made 74 consecutive cuts before missing at the British Open in 2002, and said she knew it had been a long time, but only pays attention to victories.

That might serve as a warning to everyone else on tour. She followed that missed cut in 2002 with three consecutive victories, and had won 27 of 65 starts since.