2008 Lexus Cup: Annika Sorenstam keys International team win to victory over Asia

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Associated Press

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SINGAPORE (AP) -- Annika Sorenstam celebrated two big victories in her second-to-last event before retiring.

For starters Sunday in the Lexus Cup, the International team captain waited out a lightning delay to finish off Asian counterpart Se Ri Pak 3 and 2 in the opening singles match, the longtime stars' first match-play showdown.

A couple of hours later, American Christina Kim gave Sorenstam an even bigger victory, finishing with a birdie on the par-5 18th against Namika Omata for the winning half-point in the three-day event at Singapore Island Country Club.

"It's one thing to be inside the ropes in control, but when you're cheering for everyone you want to help them however you can," said Sorenstam, set to end her Hall of Fame career next week in the Ladies European Tour's Dubai Ladies Masters.

"I kept getting goose bumps after goose bumps out there. I was really into it. I'm really proud of this team for trying so hard. I could not have asked for a better ending. ... There is nothing like a team event and, when you pull it all together, the atmosphere and camaraderie is one of a kind."

Kim's halve gave Sorenstam's International team a 12 1/2 to 11 1/2 victory, ending the side's two-year losing streak and evening the series 2-2.

"I'm amazed it came down to my match," said Kim, the outcome left to her and Omata after the 11th and 12th matches ended early. "I think I started walking before I even hit the putt out there. This is such a thrill. To be here and to win for Annika is the greatest feeling. To have it come down to me. I was scared blankless."

Kim was asked about Sorenstam -- with Sorenstam listening.

"She's been a huge icon in golf in general," Kim said. "She's a true icon. She's one of those people you come across once in a lifetime. We didn't only know her, but competed against her. Truly an honor. The only thing left is making babies. The passion, everything that you've done is a milestone. You've been a historic person."

Pak bogeyed three of the first five holes to hand Sorenstam a 3-up lead, then won Nos. 6 and 8 to cut the deficit to one. Sorenstam parred the 12th to make it 2 up, then matched Pak with birdies on 13 and 14 before adding a third straight birdie on 15 to restore her 3-up cushion. Then, after the delay, both parred 16 to end the match.

"She's done so many things on the LPGA. We're going to miss her," Pak said. "I'm not used to her being gone. I played with her two hours ago. Of course, I'm going to realize I can't see her as much. She's probably one of the great players in the LPGA. Everybody dreams to be like her."

Angela Stanford, Katherine Hull, Helen Alfredsson and Natalie Gulbis also earned full points for the International team, while Suzann Pettersen and Karen Stupples halved their matches.

Stanford beat Seon Hwa Lee 4 and 3, Lee's second straight loss after opening her Lexus Cup career 7-0-0. Hull edged Jeong Jang 1-up to finish the week 3-0-0, Alfredsson topped Inbee Park 3 and 2, and Gulbis beat Mayumi Shimomura 2 and 1.

Gulbis also talked about Sorenstam after the event.

"What I will miss the most is what she brings to tournaments," Gulbis said. "Not only is she one of the best players, but class and confidence and how she treats the fans, sponsors and fellow competitors."

Pettersen halved with Yani Tseng, and Stupples split with Eun Hee Ji. Pettersen, from Norway, teamed with Sorenstam on Saturday when the Swede holed a 45-foot eagle chip for a final-hole victory.

"She's been a great ambassador for women's golf," Pettersen said. "We've all looked up to her and enjoyed her time as a golfer."

Candie Kung won her third straight match for Asia, and Sarah Lee, Na Yeon Choi and Song Hee Kim also took their singles matches.

Kung beat Nikki Campbell 3 and 2, Sarah Lee edged Nicole Castrale 1-up, Choi beat Paula Creamer 3 and 2, and Song Hee Kim topped Cristie Kerr 1-up.

The teams were tied after each of the first two days, splitting the opening alternate-shot matches and Saturday best-ball matches.

"I'm really proud of my whole team because this is a such a really tight match since the first day, 3-3, then 6-6 and then nobody knows until the last group comes in," Pak said. "The most exciting ever. It made me nervous."

Asia won 15-9 last year at The Vines in Perth, Australia, for its second straight victory. The International team won the inaugural matches 16-8 in 2005 at Tenah Merah in Singapore, and Asia won 12 1/2 -11 1/2 at Tenah Merah in 2006.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Smith Absent, But Still In Race

Posted Aug 25, 2008

By Mike Duffy



Troy Smith was not at practice Monday, but he is still very much a part of the two-man QB race with Kyle Boller.


Despite having only one healthy quarterback on the roster, the Ravens are still sorting through a two-man competition.

Rookie Joe Flacco took all the practice reps Monday with Troy Smith recuperating from a “viral illness” and Kyle Boller battling a sore throwing shoulder.

Still, head coach John Harbaugh remains optimistic that Smith will be available to start this Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons.

“We expect him to be ready to play in the game, but it’s not certain,” Harbaugh said.



Smith was not present at Ravens headquarters because of a tonsil issue that kept him out of last weekend’s preseason matchup with the St. Louis Rams. The former Heisman Trophy winner has been taking antibiotics for his condition, which could affect his ability to make calls at the line if not fully recovered.



Harbaugh is rooting for that recovery because Smith has yet to play enough in the preseason to warrant a full evaluation from the Ravens’ coaching staff. If he can make the start, Smith is expected to see extended action.

“I hate to put a number on it, but I’d say at least a quarter and a half, and we’ll take it from there,” Harbaugh said of the two-year veteran, who went 3-of-5 for 25 yards and an interception in preseason’s Week 2.

Meanwhile, Boller is more of a known commodity. His 42 career starts offer the most experience of the trio, but he is a combined 19-of-27 for 142 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns in two preseason contests.

An injury to his right shoulder kept him out of the Rams game, but Boller tested it out Monday by only throwing passes under 20 yards.

Boller could also see time against the Falcons.

“We need to look at Troy,” Harbaugh explained. “We need to find out more about Troy, so if Troy can go he’s going to play a lot in the game.

“Kyle is still very viable in the mix. He’s had really good practices all through training camp, and we’d also like to play him in the game.”

But how much Smith is under center could affect the rest of the offense. The final preseason game typically features backups vying for the last few roster spots, not the starters.

With Smith on the field, the Ravens may have to play their first-string more than they’d like in order to achieve an accurate assessment.

Harbaugh thinks the team – especially a developing offensive line that could welcome back starting tackles Jared Gaither and Adam Terry – will benefit from the extra run.

Both offensive linemen have missed time since spraining their ankles the first week of training camp, and Gaither practiced for the first time since July 26 Monday.

“We’re in a unique situation because our starting offensive line is so young, and you have two tackles that haven’t played,” said the coach. “Those two tackles, they need to play anyway, so they’re going to play a significant amount of time in this game.

“We want our whole offensive line together, even though those [veteran] guys have played a lot. I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to break up an offensive line when you’ve got a quarterback in there who’s fighting for a job.”

That also pertains to the veterans. Wideout Derrick Mason, who enters his 12th year, is not accustomed to playing much – if at all – the last week of August, but he’s willing to change that.

“I just have to do whatever is most important to helping this team,” Mason said. “If Harbaugh wants me to go out there and play with Troy, then I’ll go play with Troy because we need that chemistry.”

Of course, there is always the scenario that includes neither Smith nor Boller, which unexpectedly occurred in St. Louis.

The Ravens are prepared to rally behind Flacco. The rookie turned in a solid performance in his starting debut, completing 18 of 37 attempts for 157 yards and a score, but much of that success came against second- and third-teamers.

“He’s operating the offense pretty effectively, and the offense is operating pretty effectively,” Harbaugh said. “Now, making plays, getting first downs, scoring points, doing all the things that you have to do to win games on offense in the NFL, that’s something that still has to be accomplished.”

Whether it’s Flacco, Smith or Boller helming the offense this week, the real race will stay between the veteran signal-callers heading into the regular season opener Sept. 7 – no matter how well Flacco achieves.

“He’s in the mix because we have two quarterbacks right now, who aren’t able to practice today,” Harbaugh said. “The big picture hasn’t changed dramatically in the sense that he’s still a rookie, and we’ve got two guys who were ahead of him going into the situation that came up right before the game.

“That’s where we’re at.”