Sorenstam ends year's drought

WOMEN'S MASTERS: Sweden's former world number one Annika Sorenstam ended a tough season in the best possible fashion by retaining the Dubai Women's Masters yesterday at the Emirates Club.

After missing a chunk of the year due to a neck injury, the 37-year-old was close to going a full season without a victory for the first time since her rookie 1994 season.

But a strong finish to a round of 70, coupled with a dramatic, final-hole horror show from playing partner Iben Tinning, allowed Sorenstam to claim the title by two shots with a 10-under-par total.

Denmark's Tinning, the overnight leader by a stroke, was still one ahead with two holes to play as she chased her sixth European Tour title and the first since becoming a mother.

But Sorenstam drew level with a birdie from 20 feet to draw level at the 17th, and then Tinning hit her third shot into water at the long 18th. She went on to take a double-bogey seven and had to settle for joint second place with England's Laura Davies.

Davies, one behind overnight, made an early move with a birdie at the long third, but dropped shots at the 12th and 15th to let slip her hopes of a 69th career title. But a two-putt birdie at the last helped her to claim a share of second.

Sorenstam, who got engaged to American Mike McGhee in August, said: "This is a very special win. It's been a tough year for me inside the ropes and I've missed the feeling of moments such as this."

Now she has her sights set on regaining top spot in the world rankings, a position she lost to Mexico's Lorena Ochoa last April.

"I want to get back to the top and this is definitely extra motivation to work hard and be ready for 2008," she added.

Swede Sophie Gustafson finished tied 15th and that was good enough to clinch the money list title.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Craig Parry held his nerve to shoot a final-round 69 and win the Australian Open title for the first time in 24 attempts at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney yesterday.

The chunky 41-year-old Australian finish on 11 under par, a shot ahead of compatriots Lee Won-joon and Nick O'Hern and American Brandt Snedeker.

Parry, who roared into contention with a course record-equalling 64 in the second round, saved par on the 17th hole after finding a bunker with his drive and safely negotiated the par-five 18th hole to clinch the Stonehaven Cup.

"This has obviously meant a lot to me for a long time," Parry told reporters. "In '84 I was leading amateur and Tom Watson was the champion. "I've been close a few times, runner-up a couple of times and top three about eight times and just could never get there."

Parry, nicknamed Popeye because of his large forearms, has won more than 20 tournaments worldwide in 22 years as a professional, including the 2002 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational.

Korean-born Lee (22), fired a sparkling 66 in the final round, picking up four birdies in the last five holes to finish on 10 under par. James Nitties tied for fifth place with Stuart Appleby after closing with a 73. Robert Allenby, joint third-round leader with Nitties, slumped to a 75 and a share of 11th place on seven under par.

Matthew Zions earlier fired a rare albatross at the par-five 14th, finding the hole with a magnificent five-wood shot. "I think it landed about seven yards short, a little right of the pin, hit soft, kicked left," he said. "I thought, I'll keep watching this for a second . . . and in it goes. It was pretty awesome."

It was the first albatross at the Australian Open since former world number one Greg Norman's two at the fifth hole in 1990.

The Indian Masters in February will be a tri-sanctioned tournament, organisers have announced.

The $2.5 million tournament will bring the European Tour, Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India together, an official said about the event which will be held at the Delhi Golf Club from February 7th-10th.

He said that a minimum of 25 spots will be allocated to Indian players in the 120 strong field headed by world number five Ernie Els.