/ 11 July 2003

Sorenstam withdraws from Canadian open

Annika Sorenstam withdrew from the Canadian Women’s Open on Thursday due to a lingering illness that hampered her at last week’s US Women’s Open.

Sorenstam played six holes in 1-over par and walked off the Point Grey Golf and Country Club course after hitting her second shot on the par-4 seventh hole into a bunker.

”I feel very bad for the fans and the tournament, but my whole body feels ill,” she said.

”I was hoping the last couple of days, with rest, would make me feel better, but the last couple of months have caught up with me.”

Sorenstam was referring to the US Women’s Open, where she relinquished a lead on the final hole of regulation and missed out on a playoff, and her PGA Tour appearance at the Colonial in May.

The Swedish superstar won the 2001 Canadian Open in Ontario. – Sapa-AFP