Sorenstam steps up challenge to Ochoa

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (AP) -- Annika Sorenstam's comeback is real. And with her third victory in eight events this season, she also showed she can beat the new world number one, Lorena Ochoa.

The eight-time player of the year pulled away from Ochoa on Saturday, using her typical steadiness for a two-under 69, then did the same to Jeong Jang on Sunday.

Four birdies in five holes on the back nine Sunday left no doubt the injuries that led to her winless 2007 are behind her, and that her once-unrivaled game is almost all the way back.

"The last nine holes, I just dialed it in," Sorenstam said. "The yardage was right. The club was right. The direction was right. It just felt really good, really solid."

Sorenstam shot a closing 66 in the Michelob Ultra Open to obliterate Karrie Webb's tournament record by five shots with a 265 total and a victory margin of seven shots.

Jang missed a short putt on the final hole for her first bogey in 35 holes and dropped into a tie for second with Christina Kim (69), who made a birdie on the final hole, Allison Fouch (64) and Karen Stupples (66).

But the story was Sorenstam, who said this weekend she knew there were people that thought her best days were behind her. She also said she'd love to play her way back to No. 1.

There also were those who pointed out her first two victories this season came in events Ochoa didn't play, but the Swede answered those doubts this weekend, too.

"She hit a perfect iron shot every single hole," Jang said. "Annika's back."

"It's good to see that she is where she was when she was No. 1," said Kim, who played with Sorenstam and Jang in the final threesome. "It's just -- flawless is the best way to put it."

On Sunday, she was almost as good as when she shot 64 to open the tournament. Hitting almost every fairway and almost every green, Sorenstam overcame an early bogey -- just her second of the tournament -- with birdies whenever Jang closed to within two shots.

Sorenstam then used her terrific wedge game to leave everyone behind.

She finished her 72nd career victory by missing a short putt for par, but by then it was academic.

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