Co-leader Sorenstam aims for fifth straight

Annika Sorenstam is comfortable with her game, which means everyone else at the Nabisco Championship is probably playing for second place.

The most dominant player in golf shot a 3-under-par 69 Friday in Rancho Mirage, Calif., to move into a tie for the lead with 45-year-old Rosie Jones after two rounds of the first LPGA major of the year.

Sorenstam did it in her typical fashion, playing with methodical consistency on a day when other players couldn’t help but make mistakes.

“I’m right where I want to be and excited about that,” Sorenstam said. “I’m playing well and I couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

Sorenstam, trying to win her fifth tournament in a row, overcame a bogey on the first hole by playing the last 12 holes in 4 under to post her score early, before the wind stiffened and scores began inching upward on the Mission Hills Country Club course.

She had the lead to herself until Jones, playing in one of the last groups of the day, birdied the 18th hole to tie her at 5-under 139.

“I’m desperate,” said Jones, who is retiring at the end of this season and has never won a major title. “I want to win a major as bad as Annika wants to win her fifth in a row. She’ll have other chances. I’ve got a lot more riding on it.”

First round co-leader Mi-Hyun Kim was in third, a stroke back, while defending champion Grace Park and Reilley Rankin were another shot behind after shooting 68s, the low rounds of the day.

Wendy Ward, from Edwall, Wash., shot a 2-over 74, for a two-day total of 2-over 146.

PGA Tour

The second round of The Players Championship lasted all of 44 minutes before rain saturated the Stadium Course in Ponte Verde Beach, Fla., and left half the fairways unplayable.

Nearly seven hours later, officials had no choice but to send players home until 7 a.m. today and figure out what to do next.

Kirk Triplett, former Pullman resident, remained tied for 31st with a 2-under 70.