ESPN Golf Online news services
Thursday, May 11

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Karrie Webb won another golf tournament over the weekend.

While Laura Davies claimed the LPGA's Philips Invitational in Texas, Webb won the Nichirei Cup in Japan for her sixth straight top-three finish to start the season.

"I'm glad I had the opportunity, and playing well and winning is a bonus," said Webb, who leads the LPGA Tour with four wins and $650,878. "It was a very special week, my first win over there. I had a good time."

This week, Webb will look for her 10th straight top-10 finish -- just four behind Pat Bradley's LPGA record set in 1991 -- at the inaugural $800,000 Electrolux USA Championship.

Country music stars Amy Grant and husband Vince Gill host this week's event, the former Sara Lee Classic which ends on Mother's Day.

Joining Webb on the 6,479-yard, par-72 Legends Club of Tennessee Ironhorse course will be six of the other top-10 players on the money list -- Juli Inkster, Charlotta Sorenstam, Carin Koch, Sherri Steinhauer, Lorie Kane and Michele Redman.

Webb, a 20-time winner in just her fifth year on the LPGA Tour, has claimed titles all over the world this year, winning in Florida, Hawaii, California and twice in Australia. Her dominance has given rise to the comparisons to Tiger Woods.

"He is someone I admire very much, for what he does in regards to all the commitments," she said. "I think I have a lot of responsibilities, but he does 10 times what I do. He's able to keep golf as No. 1 and juggles everything else and plays well."

Webb tied for sixth at last year's Sara Lee, finishing four strokes behind champion Meg Mallon, who won the last of 11 career titles.

Mallon shot a tournament-record 17-under 199 last year at the Hermitage Golf Club in Old Hickory, Tenn., but has not won in 25 events since. She had third-place finishes this year at the Nabisco Championship and Memorial of Naples.

Several players will try to celebrate Mother's Day with a victory, including Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, who again put off gall bladder surgery to play.

"She really must want to play," Webb said. "I can't imagine what kind of pain she's playing in right now. That just goes to show how great the Nashville area and fans are to Nancy and the rest of us."

Other mothers competing this week include Denise Killeen, who is more than seven months pregnant with her second child.

First prize at the Electrolux is $120,000. The Tour moves to Beavercreek, Ohio, next week for the Firstar LPGA Classic.