SORENSTAM, WIE BATTLING THROUGH INJURIES AS THE U.S. OPEN DRAWS NEAR

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SOUTHERN PINES, North Carolina:
Defending champion Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie are hoping that recent injuries will not hamper their challenge for the 62nd U.S. Women's Open, which begins Thursday. Sorenstam, who staged a successful defense when the championship was first played at Pine Needles in 1996, will join Mickey Wright and Betsy Rawls as a record four-time winner if she claims the trophy on Sunday. But after a serious back injury, the 36-year-old Swede, who has dropped to No. 3 in the world, is just getting back in the swing of things.
"At the moment, I am just concentrating on getting back to 100 percent fitness and being able to play again full-time," Sorenstam said. This is just her third tournament since an enforced six-week break.
When Sorenstam defeated American Pat Hurst at Newport Country Club a year ago, Wie finished tied for third. It was her third top-five finish in a major last year. Since then, the 17-year-old's career has been on a downward spiral, and the final blow came when she broke her wrist in a fall in January.
She has only played two tournaments in her comeback - pulling out of the first after just 16 holes and then finishing last of the 84 qualifiers at the McDonald's LPGA Championship three weeks ago.
"My wrist is getting stronger, but I still have good days and bad days," Wie said.
A long U.S. Open course where the premium is on accuracy may not be the best place to test it out.
Alexis Thompson, at 12 years and four months, becomes the youngest player to compete in the championship. In her third attempt at qualifying, she made it in her home state of Florida earlier this month.