Mike Ewald, USGA

Cherry Hills Village, Colo.— Annika Sorenstam shot an even-par 71 on Thursday during the first round of the 60th U.S. Women’s Open, and that left her pleased.

Sorenstam is seeking her 10th major victory and the third leg of the 2005 Grand Slam at this week’s championship.

"Overall I am very happy with my round," said Sorenstam. "If somebody would have told me on the first tee ‘We’ll give you level par,’ I think I would have taken it."

Annika Sorenstam during the first round of the 2005 U.S. Women's Open Championship held at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., Thursday, June 23, 2005. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Sorenstam was admittedly out of rhythm when she began her round on the 10th tee Thursday morning. Her drive found the right rough and left her no choice but to chip out to the fairway and start the day off with a bogey five. Sorenstam’s tee shot on the 11th hole landed in the left rough forcing her to punch out again.

A great play out of the bunker saved par on the hole and she seemed to find the missing rhythm after that.

After the bogey on No. 10, Sorenstam would par the next five holes before getting back to even when she stuck a 7-iron to 5 feet to birdie the 16th hole. She then gave the stroke back after a bogey on the 459 yard par-4 18th hole.

Two impressive birdies on the first and seventh holes dropped Sorenstam to 1-under before she bogeyed the ninth hole to finish at even.

"I don’t really think my length has an advantage on this golf course," she said. "I think it (the course) puts us all in the same position.

"Around par at the (U.S. Women’s) Open is always good. For a while we had some swirling wind and it made it difficult. If the greens firm up, who knows, it might be tough to break par here."

Mike Ewald is third-year Fellow with the USGA. E-mail him with questions or comments at mewald@usga.org.