Sorenstam slips out

World number one Annika Sorenstam suffered a shock exit at the halfway stage of the ADT Championship at Trump International in West Palm Beach in Florida today.

The new format – cutting the field of 32 to 16 after 36-holes – worked against the Swede after she could only manage a second round 72 for a 146 total which was one shot too many.

The remaining 16 players will again be halved after today’s third round with the eight survivors playing off over 18 holes on Sunday.

Japan’s Ai Miyazato, a 21-year-old seeking her first win in America, shot a 69 for seven under par and extended her overnight lead to two shots over a fellow-rookie, Paraguay’s Julieta Granada, who also shot 69.

Australia’s Karrie Webb (71) and American Natalie Gulbis (70) shared third place on four under 140.

Sorenstam was lying in joint 18th place at the end of a first round and never really got going in the second round. She had 16 pars to set alongside a dropped a shot at the sixth and a birdie at the seventh.

“It is really disappointing. I just didn’t get the putter going today and it’s a tough way to end the year,” said Sorenstam, whose five-year reign as the LPGA Tour’s top money winner is now certain to come to an end.

She came into the Championship in third place, behind Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa and Australia’s Karrie Webb.

Ochoa, who has already clinched the Player of the Year title, squeezed through in a six way play-off for the final three places.

She shot a second round 70 for one over par 145 but made the weekend thanks to a birdie at the third extra hole.

It turned out to be a hugely disappointing day for the three Europeans in the elite field with Sorenstam’s fellow-Swedes Sophie Gustafson and Maria Hjorth also bowing out.

Gustafson had a 76 for five over and Hjorth shot the same score for six over.