Lytham St Anne's, Aug 04: World number one Annika Sorenstam claimed her sixth major and completed a career grand slam in a thrilling finish to the women's British Open on Sunday. After the lead had continually changed hands, the 32-year-old Swede closed with a two-under-par 70 to edge out South Korea's Pak Se Ri by a shot. Sorenstam finished at 10-under 278, with world number two Pak, who faltered at the last, alone in second place after carding a level-par 72. Australia's Karrie Webb (71) and South Korea's Grace Park (70) tied for third at eight-under 280. Paired together for the last round, Sorenstam and Pak were tied for the lead standing on the final tee. Sorenstam produced a rock-solid par four but Pak, after a getting a cruel bounce into a bunker off the tee, ran up a bogey five, effectively handing the Swede her maiden British Open crown. "This is amazing and, at the moment, I can't really take it all in," said Sorenstam, who has won five times worldwide this year. Her triumph was her second major of the year, following her victory at the LPGA Championship in June.


"This is a championship I have always wanted to win and to complete the grand slam is just unbelievable."


Sorenstam is the sixth woman to achieve a career grand slam of the four available majors, following in the footsteps of Mickey Wright, Louise Suggs, Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster and Webb.


Her victory provides further justification in her eyes that her controversial appearance alongside the men at the PGA Tour's Colonial in May has made her an even better competitor.


"This whole year has just been fantastic," she said. "Colonial, the LPGA Championship and now a first British Open. It's a dream come true.


"I actually though about Colonial quite a lot this afternoon. I thought if I could cope with that sort of pressure then I could do it today. The more you face pressure situations, the better you get at it."


Sorenstam began the day two shots off the lead, but proved to be the steadiest of several contenders jostling for position as she once again underlined her ability to master the pressure.


She did drop an early shot, at the fourth, but hit back with birdies at three of the long holes, the sixth, 11th and 15th.


Pak missed a bundle of early chances and ended the day with three birdies and three bogeys.


"It was a thrilling day but you always know that Annika is going to play really well," said Pak. "I thought I was unlucky with my bounce off the tee shot at the last.

"That was really the story of the day. Nothing went quite right for me."


Pregnant Frenchwomen Patricia Meunier Lebouc, one shot clear overnight, slipped back with a 76 and finished fifth at six under.


Leading scores after the final round of the women's British Open golf championship at the par-72 Royal Lytham & St Anne's course on Sunday: 278 Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) 68 72 68 70 279 Pak Se Ri (South Korea) 69 69 69 72 280 Karrie Webb (Australia) 67 72 70 71, Grace Park (South Korea) 74 65 71 70 282 Patricia Meunier Lebouc (France) 70 69 67 76 283 Vicki Goetze-Ackerman (U.S.) 73 71 68 71, Wendy Ward (U.S.) 67 71 69 76 284 Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) 73 69 71 71 285 Kim Young (South Korea) 73 70 72 70 286 Gloria Park (South Korea) 70 75 69 72, Candie Kung (Thailand) 73 71 69 73 287 Karen Stupples (Britain) 69 74 70 74, Paula Marti (Spain) 71 70 70 76 288 Laura Diaz (U.S.) 73 74 71 70, Jang Jeong (South Korea) 76 69 72 71, Cristie Kerr (U.S.) 74 71 71 72, Beth Daniel (U.S.) 74 71 67 76


Bureau Report