Swede out to be No. 1 yet again.

Byline: Jack Saylor

BOYNE FALLS, Mich. _ With back-to-back victories in the Jamie Farr and Big Apple classics, Annika Sorenstam reaffirmed her desire to reclaim her position as the LPGA's No. 1 player. Now comes the big one, this week's U.S. Women's Open outside Chicago. Sorenstam has played poorly since winning it in 1995 and 1996.

The race for No. 1 is a three-way fight among Sorenstam, a 29-year-old Swede, Australian Karrie Webb and American Juli Inkster, the defending Open champion who also won the LPGA Championship this season.

Sunday's Big Apple victory was Sorenstam's fifth of the season and gave her the LPGA money lead with $985,635. Webb is right behind with $963,742, and Inkster is third with $695,314.

"I feel my luck has turned around," Sorenstam …