Sorenstam starts well

Annika Sorenstam is off to a good start in her quest to make history.

Sorenstam carded an eight-under-par 64 and is one shot behind Korean Young Kim following the first round of the Mizuno Classic.

The four-time defending champion, Sorenstam is attempting to become the first LPGA or PGA Tour member to ever win the same tournament five straight times.

Sorenstam, the best women’s player in the world, always has played some of her best golf on the Seta Golf Course, winning by nine shots in each of the last two years. She also set an LPGA record for lowest score in a 54-hole event when she finished at 24-under in 2003.

The Swedish superstar continued her success today en route to a bogey-free round. She started with a birdie, and then had a par before four straight birdies from the third.

Sorenstam carded another birdie at the par-four eighth, playing the front nine at six-under 30. She was consistent on the back side, with birdies at the 10th and 14th.

Sorenstam has not signed for a score in the 70s in Shiga sine the final round of the 2001 event, when she closed with a 70 to win by three shots over Laura Davies. The last two years, she has not posted a score higher than 66 while carding three 63s.

It has been another stellar campaign for Sorenstam, who has already won eight events this season and has clinched an LPGA-record eighth Rolex Player of the Year award and a record-tying eighth ADT Official Money List title.

Despite Sorenstam’s blistering start, Kim finished with a flourish to gain the lead.

Kim capped her bogey-free round on the front nine with five straight birdies. Like Sorenstam, she also played the first nine holes at six under.

In her third year on tour, Kim is seeking her first career title. Her best career finish was a tie for fifth at the Sybase Classic in 2004.

Japan’s Shiho Ohyama is just two shots from the lead after signing for a bogey-free 65. It is another stroke back to Koreans Il Mi Chung and Jeong Jang.