Preferred Lies January 2008

Dubai double for Annika

Annika Sorenstam capped off her injury-hit season by retaining her Dubai Ladies’ Masters title.

The former world number one, who missed much of the year with a neck problem, faced going a full season without a victory for the first time since 1994.

But a strong final round of 70, along with Iben Tinning’s nightmare last hole, enabled Sorenstam to triumph by two shots with a 10-under-par total.

Overnight leader Tinning ended in a tie for second with England’s Laura Davies. The Dane was still one shot ahead with two holes to play as she chased her sixth ladies’ European Tour title and the first since becoming a mother.

But Sorenstam, 37, drew level with a birdie from 20 feet at the 17th and then Tinning hit her third shot into water at the long 18th as she went on to make a double-bogey.

Davies, one behind overnight, made an early move with a birdie at the third, but dropped shots at the 12th and 15th to dent her hopes of a 69th career title.

But a two-putt birdie at the last helped her to claim a share of second.

“It’s been a tough year for me inside the ropes and I’ve missed the feeling of moments such as this,” said Sweden’s Sorenstam, who has set her sights on regaining top spot in the world rankings – a position she lost to Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa last April.

“This is a little light in the tunnel. It’s been a tough year and I’m still working a lot on my game. I think the key for me this week was to post some solid scores under par. Being in the last group on the last day; there is extra pressure and I haven’t had that in a long time.

“It’s something that you have to train and get used to again so I think it was very important. To be able to finish and walk home with the trophy; just getting the job done, means a lot to me. It’s going to carry on for next year. I need that and so this is a very special win in many, many ways.

“I want to get back to the top and this is definitely extra motivation to work hard and be ready for 2008,”

Sorenstam classed it “a very special win”in a year when troubles on the course have been balanced by happiness off it. She became engaged to American Mike McGhee in August and capped her Dubai triumph with an engagement party at home in Florida the following weekend.