By Alex Miceli

Newport, R.I. - Annika Sorenstam finds herself in what must seem like unfamiliar territory: leading a U.S. Women’s Open. 

Of course, that’s not entirely true. Sorenstam has led five times after rounds in the U.S. Women’s Open and finished on top twice. But since her last win in 1996, she has led only two rounds, one of those when she lost to a hot Juli Inkster in 2002 at Prairie Dunes.

In 1995, Sorenstam had the lead through 36 holes. She dropped to fourth after 54 holes but would come back to win. A year later, she never relinquished the lead.

Annika Sorenstam, on the 14th fairway Saturday, has hit 25 of 36 greens. (John Mummert/USGA)

That wouldn’t happen in 2002 when she held the lead at the midway point and after the third round. Inkster charged by with a final-round 66 to win by two shots.

Since then Sorenstam has never been the leader after any round in a Women’s Open until this week, although she posted a fourth-place finish in 2003, runner-up honors in 2004 and a forgetful T-23 last year. But don’t tell her she’s in a Women’s Open drought.

"I think ‘drought,’ there’s a lot of people that never win the U.S. Open," she said. "I have won two. And that’s kind of the way I look at it. I’ve been close a few times the last few years. It is a tough championship to win."

After 36 holes at Newport, she’s holding steady with a 2-under-par 140.

"I came out and expected the same thing and it never happened," said Sorenstam of the missed chances the past few years. "I felt like I beat up on myself. I felt I got in my own way.  About five years ago I felt more comfortable playing in these championships and went out and played like I normally do in a regular event.  And I think since then I've been really close."

Relaxed and focused, Sorenstam is in the best position to win her third Women’s Open Sunday, but with a 36-hole finale she may be facing a bigger challenge than she anticipated.

"For me, it's more going to be the mental part than the physical part," said Sorenstam.  "I'm not really worried about that.  It's just, ‘Can you stay focused for all those shots?’  If it's windy, then you have to think so much more about the different shots.  So I think by late in the day we'll be all exhausted."

Her strategy this week has been finding fairways, greens and executing with the flat stick. She said she won’t deviate from that plan Sunday, preferring to stay conservative. By her definition, conservative means a one-shot-at-a-time approach.

Through the first 36 holes she’s been close to perfection, striking 82.1 percent of the fairways and almost 70 percent of the greens in regulation. More telling is that Sorenstam doesn’t have a three-putt this week.

"When I come out tomorrow I'm going to feel like I'm ready," said Sorenstam.  "I know that it's not going to be something that I can't handle.  I know that I'm not going to have to worry about the physical part.  All I have to worry is about hitting good shots, picking the right clubs and making some putts.  That's all I'm going to worry about.  The other part is just going to come and I'll be fine."

Alex Miceli is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.uswomensopen.com.