Sorenstam Wins Ninth LPGA Title

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) - Annika Sorenstam is raising the bar as high as it gets in women's golf. <br><br>Her career-high ninth LPGA Tour victory and 40th career title in hand Sunday, the Swedish star

Monday, October 7th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) - Annika Sorenstam is raising the bar as high as it gets in women's golf.

Her career-high ninth LPGA Tour victory and 40th career title in hand Sunday, the Swedish star is taking aim at Mickey Wright's tour record of 13 victories set in 1963.

``Why should you limit yourself?'' Sorenstam asked. ``The sky is the limit. That's what my caddie always tells me. Once you get it in your head that it's OK, then you can perform. When you say, 'It may never be broken,' then you might start to believe it.

``I don't believe in those things. It's possible. That's what keeps me going forward.''

She certainly went forward Sunday in the Samsung World Championship, closing with a 7-under 65 for a six-stroke victory over Cristie Kerr in the elite 20-player event.

The Swede, also the tournament winner in 1995 and 1996 in South Korea, has won her last four individual tournaments - the Compaq Classic in Speden and three LPGA Tour events. She has 11 worldwide wins in 20 starts this year.

``I know I can't win every tournament on the planet, but I know I have the game I want,'' said Sorenstam, planning to play the final five events of the season in a bid to break Wright's record.

``I didn't think about the records until last year when I won eight times and I looked in the books and saw what the other ladies have done. Then this year, I wanted to beat last year.''

The first player to win nine tournaments in a season since Nancy Lopez did it as a rookie year in 1978, Sorenstam opened with rounds of 66, 67 and 68 en route to a tournament-record 22-under total on the Hiddenbrooke course. She earned $162,000 to push her tour-record total to $2,373,991 in 18 events.

Kerr, who began the round tied with Sorenstam for the lead at 15 under, shot a 71. The U.S. Solheim Cup player fell three strokes behind on the first hole and was four back after two.

While Sorenstam hit a sand wedge to 4 feet to set up an opening birdie, Kerr double-bogeyed the hole after driving right. Kerr then dropped another stroke on No. 2 after hitting into the water.

``I just had a terrible start,'' Kerr said. ``It wasn't mental and it wasn't the pressure. I struggled with my swing early. I needed to play tip-top golf, and I didn't. But I'm proud of the way I hung in there.''

Michele Redman eagled the final hole for a 68 to finish third at 15 under, and 1999 winner Se Ri Pak (70) joined Rosie Jones (71) at 13 under. Rachel Teske (65) and Lorie Kane (70) were 11 under.

Divots: Only four players in LPGA Tour history have won at least 10 events in a season - Wright (1961-64), Betsy Rawls (1959), Carol Mann (1968) and Kathy Whitworth (1968). ... Sorenstam will be 32 on Wednesday.