Sorenstam wins at first playoff hole

Annika Sorenstam won her fourth straight LPGA Tour start, making up four strokes in the last three holes and then beating Lorena Ochoa on the first hole of a playoff in the Safeway International on Sunday.

The victory — the 58th of Sorenstam's LPGA Tour career — was her second in two events this year and sixth in her last eight tournaments.

Sorenstam finished with a 2-under 70 to match Ochoa (74) at 11-under 277.

Sorenstam, the four-time LPGA player of the year and scoring record-setter, won her season debut in Mexico City two weeks ago, dashing the 23-year-old Ochoa's dream of a victory in her native land. It was more of the same this time, but with a twist.

Ochoa was 14 under to Sorenstam's 10 under after birdieing the 15th hole.

But it was a train wreck after that for the rising Mexican star, who won twice last year and had 16 other top-10 finishes, winding up third on the money list behind Sorenstam and Grace Park.

Ochoa double-bogeyed the 16th hole for the second time in two days and two-putted from 7 feet for a bogey on the 17th.

Sorenstam reached the green on the par-5 18th in two, missed a 35-foot eagle putt but tapped in for the birdie that sent both players back to the 18th tee for the playoff.

The unnerved Ochoa put her tee shot in a long, narrow lake on the Prospector Course's only water hole, and the conclusion was never in doubt from there. Sorenstam was pin-high with her second shot again, chipped 7 feet past and made the par putt.

Ochoa didn't even putt for bogey after her attempt to save par with a chip from short grass left of the cup went 5 feet past.

Juli Inkster (72) and Soo-Yun Kang (76) tied for third at 8 under.

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