Sizzling Sorenstam retains Dubai crown

Sweden's Annika Sorenstam broke her 2007 tournament duck at the last hurdle when she won the Dubai Ladies Masters on Sunday as the challenge of Denmark's Iben Tinning dramatically sank into a watery grave at the 72nd hole at Emirates Golf Club.

Tinning started the day with a one-shot lead and the pair were level at 10 under par as they both faced third-shot short pitches across the lake guarding the 18th green.

Tinning, however, slightly under-hit her approach and was horrified to see it catch the slope at the front of the green and spin back into the water. Tinning was forced to take a penalty drop and could only record a double-bogey seven.

Sorenstam seized her chance and safely found the putting surface and two strokes later was the champion again.

Sorenstam closed with a two-under-par 70 for a tournament total of 10-under-par 278 to beat Tinning and Engl;and's Laura Davies by two shots.

Sorenstam, who spent much of the year battling against a succession of back problems, was delighted with her efforts. "It feels wonderful. It's been kind of a tough year for me inside the ropes and to come here and defend a title and to play so consistent and bring the trophy home; it's just a wonderful feeling," said the winner of the 10 major titles in a glittering career spanning almost 15 years.

FINAL SCORES:

278 Annika Sorenstam (SWE) 70 70 68 70
280 Laura Davies (ENG) 67 70 71 72; Iben Tinning (DEN) 72 68 67 73
282 Anja Monke (GER) 71 68 75 68; Lisa Hall (ENG) 67 69 77 69; Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 72 70 71 69; Catriona Matthew (SCO) 70 72 70 70;
Amy Yang (KOR) Korea 71 73 68 70; Veronica Zorzi (ITA) Peak Performance, Italy 70 68 70 74
283 Paula Marti (ESP) 73 72 71 67; Sophie Giquel (FRA) 72 74 70 67; Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 69 72 73 69; Louise Stahle (SWE) 64 74 73 72
284 Johanna Head (ENG) 71 72 70 71
285 Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 68 74 72 71; Linda Wessberg (SWE) 70 74 69 72 286 Trish Johnson (ENG) 70 72 73 71
287 Laurette Maritz (SA) 73 75 73 66; Louise Friberg (SWE) 72 72 74 69; Carlota Ciganda (Am) (ESP) Spain 72 70 74 71; Federica Piovano (ITA) 69 75 71 72 6,616.66
288 Joanne Mills (AUS) 72 71 72 73; Becky Brewerton (WAL) 73 72 69 74; Smriti Mehra (IN) 76 70 68 74
290 Ashleigh Simon (SA) 69 72 78 71; Martina Eberl (GER) 70 72 75 73; Maria Hjorth (SWE) 73 69 73 75; Felicity Johnson (ENG) Harborne GC, England 72 72 71 75
291 Ha-Neul Kim (KOR) 71 73 76 71; Marta Prieto (ESP) 73 74 72 72
292 Lynn Brooky (NZ) 73 73 75 71
Stacy Lee Bregman (SA) 78 70 73 71; Christine Hallstrom (SWE) 77 72 71 72
293 Clare Queen (SCO)72 76 72 73
294 Natascha Fink (AUT) 78 73 76 67; Sara Beautell (ESP) 76 74 74 70; Karen-Margrethe Juul (DEN) Denmark 76 75 73 70; Johanna Westerberg (SWE) Sweden 77 74 73 70; Melissa Reid (ENG) Spicer Haart 74 72 74 74
295 Asa Gottmo (SWE) 73 72 76 74; Lisa Holm Sorensen (DEN) Aalborg Golfklub Denmark 68 79 73 75; Fame More (ENG) Heritage Golf & Spa, Mauritius 71 77 71 76; Helen Alfredsson (SWE) Sweden 75 73 71 76
296 Martina Gillen (IRE) 76 75 74 71
Danielle Masters (ENG) 72 71 79 74; Chutichai Porani (THA) 72 77 73 74; Kirsty S Taylor (ENG) England 72 71 78 75; Sarah Kemp (AUS) Australia 73 70 77 76;
Amanda Moltke-Leth (DEN) Royal Copenhagen Golf Club 74 71 75 76 »»
297 Ana B Sanchez (ESP) La Sella Golf Resort 75 73 77 72; Leah Hart (AUS) Australia 74 72 78 73; Tania Elosegui (ESP) 74 77 73 73; Helena Alterby (SWE) Sweden 77 74 72 74; Stephanie Arricau (FRA) Pau Golf Club, France 72 74 72 79
299 Ludivine Kreutz (FRA) 71 78 78 72; Nikki Garrett (AUS) Oakley, Magenta Shores C.C. 80 69 74 76; Kirsty Taylor (ENG) Minchinhampton Golf Club 76 74 73 76
300 Anna Tybring (SWE) 74 76 77 73; Catrin Nilsmark (SWE) 74 76 74 76
301 Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 72 77 77 75
302 Maria Boden (SWE) 74 74 75 79 1,475.00; Claire Coughlan (IRE) 70 79 73 80
304 Elisabeth Esterl (GER) Constance Belle Mare Plage 75 74 79 76; Hee Jung Kim (KOR) 76 72 79 77
305 Bettina Hauert (GER) 73 76 81 75; Anna Rawson (AUS) Australia 78 72 79 76
309 Mette Buus (DEN) 75 76 79 79 1,200.00
310 Georgina Simpson (ENG) 76 75 78 81
312 Jo Clingan (ENG) 75 76 79 82