It's a flashback to the turn of the century. The late 1990s/early 2000s saw a tug-of-war for LPGA supremacy between Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb.
Here in 2026, it's those two LPGA Hall of Famers tied for the lead after 36 holes at the U.S. Senior Women's Open.
The eighth rendition of this U.S. Golf Association event is being held at Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Annika Sorenstam led by two for much of the day Friday before a double-bogey 7 on the 17th hole. Still, she would shoot 72 one day after opening with a 68 to get to 4 under overall in the championship.
Meanwhile, Karrie Webb was two shots better Friday than she was Thursday
(71-69) and she is also at 4 under through two rounds. These two long-time combatants are tied for the lead in a quest to add another USGS trophy to their collection.
"It feels good. You know, I'm proud of myself for not letting yesterday's finish affect how I started off today," said Webb. "It obviously helped to birdie the first two out of the first three holes and get off to a good start. But, yeah, I think I'm really excited that I have a chance over the weekend."
Sorenstam talked after Thurday's round about a wonky driver but that club cooperated more Friday.
"That was better, so now I have some other parts that I got to work on. It's always something," she said. "But, no, I think I drove it decently. I hit a few good ones there, which helps, you know, just being in the fairway versus being in the rough. It's always something I've got to fine-tune."
Sorenstam is a 72-time winner on the LPGA. She has 10 majors, including three U.S. Women's Opens. An eight-time Player of the Year, Sorenstam won the Vare Trophy six times and had two seasons in which she won 10 and 11 times. She was inducted in 2003.
Webb reached the 27-point threshold at age 25 with her victory at the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open. At the time, LPGA rules were such that she had to wait until age 30 to reach the now-defunct 10-year requirement. Webb won 41 LPGA titles, including seven majors.
Another Hall of Famer, Juli Inkster, is competing this week as well, giving this senior field three of the 35 LPGA Hall of Famers. Inkster is in the afternoon wave and was tied for sixth midway through her second round.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Back to the future: Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb tied for U.S. Senior Women's Open lead
