Sorenstam struggles in quest for No. 6

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- There's a Swede in the lead at the Michelob Ultra Open.

No, not THAT one.

Trying to become the first LPGA player to win six straight tournaments, Annika Sorenstam instead had one of her worst rounds in recent memory Thursday. She shot a 5-over 76, leaving her nine strokes behind leaders Silvia Cavalleri and Catrin Nilsmark.

"I don't know what to say about this round," Sorenstam said. "I thought I played pretty good today. It just didn't go my way at all."

No, it didn't. Sorenstam's score was her highest in relation to par since a 5-over 77 in the second round of the 2002 British Open. That, by the way, was also the last time she missed a cut. She shot a 76 in the second round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship last year, but par was 72.

It also was her highest score in an opening round since a 76 in the 2000 Rochester International, and it ended a stretch of 43 rounds at par or better.

"I can't remember it. And I don't want to remember it," Sorenstam said when asked the last time she had a round this bad. "I just want to move forward. I've got to go low the next three days, and I know I can do it."

She's going to have to today if she wants to play this weekend. The top 70 players and ties make the cut, and 82 are at 2-over or better.

Nilsmark and Cavalleri are leading at 4-under 67. Cristie Kerr, Kristen Samp, Leta Lindley, Laura Diaz and Jill McGill are at 3-under, and there's a big bunch at 69.

But if anyone can rally, it's Sorenstam.

"No," Nilsmark said when asked if nine strokes is a comfortable cushion when her fellow Swede is around. "More like 29 or 39, to be a little safe."

Sorenstam has been on an amazing roll lately, winning five straight to tie Nancy Lopez's long-standing LPGA record. She shares the LPGA record for biggest comeback victory, rallying from 10 shots back on the final day to win The Office Depot in 2001. She also made up four strokes in the final three holes, then won in a playoff, at the Safeway International, her fourth victory in the streak.

And she finished her round Thursday with her best shot of the day, chipping in from 50 feet on the par-4 No. 9.

"I'm hoping my luck is turning," she said. "That's how I'm going to look at it. That's what I need the next three days."

Conditions are expected to get nasty, too, after a windy and cool day Thursday. Rain is forecast all day today, with high temperatures only in the 50s.

PGA Tour

Sergio Garcia hardly missed a shot in his round of 6-under 66, took a two-shot lead Thursday in the Wachovia Championship and was mildly disgusted.

Masters champion Tiger Woods made mental blunders and was relieved to shoot 70.

In a round where five guys atop the leaderboard made a mess of the final hole, Garcia finished with a 5-iron into a cool breeze that stopped 6 feet away on the 486-yard ninth hole, giving him a birdie he felt was overdue -- even though it was his eighth of the day.

"I'm happy about the round," Garcia said. "But at the same time, I look at it and say, 'This could have been amazing.' I didn't make as many putts as I deserved. I could have easily shot 61 or 62 -- easily could have shot that."

He broke by two shots the back-nine record at Quail Hollow with a 30, then turned a brilliant day into a minor struggle with back-to-back bogeys, including a 30-inch miss for par on the second hole.

Still, it was enough to give him a two-shot lead over defending champion Joey Sindelar, Kenny Perry, Patrick Sheehan and Richard Johnson of Sweden, and plenty of momentum heading into the second round.

"Don't get me wrong -- I'm happy about my score," Garcia said. "But I feel I only got 60 percent out of my round."

Woods had reason to smile about his 70.

Playing for the first time since his playoff victory at Augusta National three weeks ago, he didn't commit himself to shots and looked out of sync playing his first five holes in 2 over par. He recovered finished with back-to-back birdies, including a 40-footer on the ninth hole.