By Dave Shedloski

Edina, Minn. – If Annika Sorenstam intends to win her fourth U.S. Women’s Open title, she’ll have to do it from one of the worst starting positions she’s had in her 15 appearances.

Annika Sorenstam put herself in position to score well, finding every fairway in regulation, but putts wouldn't fall. (John Mummert/USGA)

With her putting not commensurate with a superb tee-to-green effort, Sorenstam surrendered two early birdies and ended up carding a 2-over-par 75 in Thursday’s opening round of the 63^rd U.S. Women’s Open. The No. 2-ranked player in the world finds herself mired in 66^th place, the second-lowest spot she has ever been in after 18 holes in this championship.

In 1997, after consecutive Open titles, Sorenstam opened with a 77 and was tied for 102^nd out of 156 players. That was the only year she has missed the cut. During her three victories, in 1995, ’96 and 2006, Sorenstam was never out of the top five after any round.

"I got off to a great start and made a few mistakes in the middle of the round, but I played some good golf today, I really did," said Sorenstam, 37, who trails the leaders by eight strokes. "I didn't deviate from my plan. I played very smart, I thought. Just a few putts go in it would have been a different story."

Sorenstam hit 14 greens and was credited with 10 fairways, though the ones she missed were still in a position to advance the ball to the greens. However, the talented Swede, who plans to retire at year’s end, needed 33 putts, including a deflating three-putt at the 18^th hole (her ninth of the day) from about 12 feet.

"That was unfortunate," she said.

With birdies on two of the first seven holes as she began her championship on the 10^th tee, Sorenstam appeared to be on her way to a strong position after 18 holes. She birdied the 11^th after a wedge shot to 10 feet and at 16 a 9-iron set up an 11-footer for birdie.

"And that was it," she said with shrug.

"It's been like that for a little while," she said of her scoring troubles, which have kept her from winning the last four starts after three victories in her first eight of her final season. "I'm hitting the ball beautifully. I just, maybe one shot here or there that I missed. Other than that, it's on the numbers, the direction, everything, it feels very, very good. So I just got to be patient and get off to an early good start tomorrow morning and keep it.

"I know I got the game and I love the golf course, and just a long ways to go."

Dave Shedloski is a freelance writer whose work has previously appeared on www.uswomensopen.com.