Sorenstam Is Keeping Busy

Annika Sorenstam, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship Sunday at Mission Hills Country Club, is going to have a busy week.

Sorenstam, who set a record last year when she came from 10 shots down to win the Office Depot Championship at Wilshire Country Club, her fourth consecutive LPGA Tour victory, is back for more.

This week, Sorenstam returns to defend her title, but at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana and for a purse that has been increased $200,000 to $1 million.

Sorenstam and Karrie Webb, the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked players, who were in the last group of Sunday’s Kraft Nabisco Championship, lead a strong field in the Office Depot tournament, which is hosted by Amy Alcott.

Se Ri Pak, Rosie Jones, Lori Kane, Liselotte Neumann, Laura Diaz and Mi Hyun Kim are among the top players who have entered the event.

Last year at Wilshire, Sorenstam started the final round 10 shots behind leader Pat Hurst, but finished with a 66. When Hurst closed with a 77, Sorenstam wound up in a playoff with Kim, who had a 65. Sorenstam beat Kim on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

The Office Depot is the 25th of the LPGA’s 31 official events to offer prize money of at least $1 million, up from 12 in 2000.

The 54-hole event is Friday, Saturday and Sunday.