Hurting Jenny vies in 2nd ‘Major’

While the rest of the elite field would be worrying on how to foil Annika Sorenstam’s "Operation Soren-slam," one player would be more concerned on her wrist than anything else.

Jennifer Rosales withdrew from last week’s Shoprite Classic in New Jersey after 18 holes to give her injured wrist more time to heal and make sure she’ll be fit to play in the LPGA Championship — the second major event on the LPGA Tour — which fires off Thursday in Maryland (Friday in Manila).

"Yes, she’s playing in the LPGA Championship. She didn’t force it last week to prepare herself for this major event. Medyo okay na naman daw," said Jenny’s brother Gerald, referring to her wrist injury that has hampered Rosales’ otherwise promising campaign on the lucrative tour.

Actually, Rosales had taken a three-week break from the grueling circuit heading into the $1.8 million championship that included a week-long rest here in Manila. And the two-time LPGA Tour winner hopes to pour it all out this week in a bid to contend for a major crown.

Never mind if focus will be on Sorenstam, now chasing the second jewel of a Grand Slam bid after running away with the Kraft Nabisco crown last March. In fact, Rosales, winner of the circuit’s opening leg in Hawaii, would be more than happy to play in the privacy of her flight with buddy Dorothy Delasin and unheralded Karine Icher at 1:10 p.m. at the backside of the Bulle Rock Golf Course.

"At least si Dorothy ang ka-flight kaya I’m sure medyo magiging relax siya at kumpiyansya sa magiging laro niya," added Gerald.

But, for sure, nobody in the fold would be playing with as much confidence as Sorenstam.

The LPGA Championship is the second stop on what Sorenstam hopes will make her the first female golfer to win the professional Grand Slam in a calendar year.

That’s all she has talked about for two years. And after winning the first major in March at the Kraft Nabisco Championship — by eight shots, no less — that’s all anyone is talking about. ( With AP)