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Annika Sorenstam sits 10 strokes behind the beat at the Gainbridge LPGA, her first official start from the LPGA Tour since retiring from golf in 2008; watch live all week on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel
By Ali Stafford
Last updated: 02/26/21 00:02 am
Annika Sorenstam makes first LPGA Tour appearance in 13 years at Gainbridge LPGA
Lydia Ko holds a two-stroke advantage after Gainbridge’s LPGA first round, while Annika Sorenstam produced a fighting demo on her long-awaited return to the LPGA Tour.
Sorenstam, making his first official appearance on the LPGA Tour since 2008, posted an over-75-year treble at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club to tie 79th and 10 strokes ahead.
The Swede opened with six straight starts on her home run, then slipped through the standings, racking up a triple bogey in the seventh and giving up another shot in the 10th.
Sorenstam (right) performed alongside fellow Swedish Anna Nordqvist
Sorenstam produced impressive ground to leave a birdie tap-in in the 14th and closed her back nine with four consecutive starts, leaving the ten-time major champion still with a shot at qualifying for the weekend.
Ko looked for the eagle on his first hole and landed a shot on the third, before reversing his only fault in the seventh by birding the eighth and 11th to go four under.
The New Zealander then hit three of her last five holes on her way to an Under-65 score, pulling her away from Nelly Korda – who also birdied on the last – and Dane’s Nanna Moertz Madsen.
Lydia Ko is looking for a first LPGA Tour title since 2018
“Hands down, I think it’s probably my best score here,” said Ko, who also has the former Solheim Cup venue as a home course. “Normally when I play I don’t really count everything. Keeping him in play will be a very big key for us all the next three days.”
World No.1 Jin Young Ko is in the seven-on-four-under squad and Ireland’s Leona Maguire is four on pace, while Charley Hull and Mel Reid are both tied for 29th after the opening round 71s.
Watch Gainbridge’s LPGA all week long live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Fridays from 7:30 p.m. via the red button on Sky Sports Golf and on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel!
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