The Associated Press

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Annika Sorenstam at least got her birthday cake.

The other half of Thursday's celebration - finally getting into the World Golf Hall of Fame - had to wait another day when the first round of the Samsung World Championship was washed out by heavy rains.

"I guess the sun is supposed to shine when I get in," Sorenstam said with a laugh. "Maybe tomorrow."

Sorenstam, 33, took care of the golf requirements for the Hall of Fame at the start of the 2000 season, but she still had to put in 10 years on the LPGA Tour to be eligible.

The Samsung Championship is her 15th event of the season, officially marking her 10th year, and all she had to do was play 18 holes - on her birthday, no less.

Instead, she never made it off the first tee.

Sorenstam ducked under an umbrella on the practice green, smiled and waved to fans who wished her "Happy Birthday" as she walked to the first tee. Minutes later, she walked into the clubhouse.

Sorenstam pretended to blow out candles that weren't on the birthday cake and then made it clear that "Hall of Famer" doesn't always apply to those close to retirement.

"I'm still in my prime," she said. "To be in the Hall of Fame, it kind of makes me sound old. But I feel younger than ever."

The big moment is Oct. 20 in St. Augustine, Fla., when Sorenstam is inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame along with Nick Price, Leo Diegel and Chako Higuchi.

Sorenstam will be the 100th member and 21st LPGA player in the Hall of Fame. She also has a party planned with the LPGA on Nov. 24 to celebrate the occasion.

"I've got some big days, busy months ahead," she said.

LAS VEGAS: Scott Verplank, Tim Herron and Scott McCarron shot 62s at the Las Vegas Invitational Thursday.

Verplank is tied with Steve Flesch for the second-round league at 17-under 126.

Charles Howell III had a 65 and was at 128.

Herron, Craig Barlow (67) and Steve Lowery (64) were at 129 heading into Friday's third round.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Jan Stephenson will become the first woman to play on the Champions Tour when she tees of in today's Turtle Bay Championship.

Stephenson, 51, doesn't want to prove she can compete with the men. She only wants to bring attention to the fledgling Women's Senior Golf Tour.

"I don't want to match my game against the men," she said. "I know they can outhit and outplay me. I'm here to promote the WSGT. We need a spark."