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The Swede was thrilled to match Woods' tally of nine majors when she won the McDonald's LPGA Championship last month - but she then dropped behind when he captured the Open Championship at St Andrews.
"It's great to have Tiger as a friend and a practice partner," said the Swede of her Florida neighbour. "He's got so much imagination and taught me a lot of shots."
A victory on Sunday would see Sorenstam become just the fourth player in history to win three women's majors in one season, following in the footsteps of Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986).
Having won the Kraft Nabisco and the LPGA Championship, her dream of becoming the first to make a season's clean sweep of the majors came to an end when she tied for 23rd - her lowest finish in almost three years on the LPGA Tour - at the US Women's Open last month.
"But the Grand Slam disappointment is out of my system." she said.
"If I can win three out of four majors then it will be a wonderful season and (losing) the US Women's Open won't ruin it."
Sorenstam's sole victory in the British Open came at Royal Lytham & St Anne's two years ago, and she relishes the opportunity to win again over a famous Open Championship links.
"Birkdale is one of my favourite courses in Europe and I love the challenge of a links course," she continued.
"The British Open has always been special. It's the only major in Europe and has so much history and tradition."
The new teenage crop is headed by 18-year-old Paula Creamer and 15-year-old amateur Michelle Wie, and they both have the credentials to be serious contenders to become the first teenage winner - Karrie Webb, aged 20 at Woburn in 1995, is the youngest to date.
Creamer has already won twice as a rookie, while Wie has had three second places on the LPGA Tour this year, including one behind Sorenstam in last month's major, the LPGA Championship.
Wie and Creamer were both members of the American Solheim Cup side that beat Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup at nearby Formby last year.
"It's good to be back over here," said Wie, who continues to insist she has no idea when she will turn professional. "I'm having too much fun as an amateur.
"I play in really windy conditions back home in Hawaii so I know how to hit the low shots. This golf course is unique, but it's great."
England's Karen Stupples defends the Championship she won at Sunningdale last year, while 1986 champion Laura Davies and Scot Catriona Matthew, with six top 10s this year, are other British hopefuls. |
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