Sorenstam stakes early claim

Defending champion Annika Sorenstam claimed a share of the first-round lead in the Samsung World Championship in California with a five-under-par 67 at the Bighorn Golf Club.

In search of her sixth victory in the event, which would set yet another record for the world’s top-ranked player, Sorenstam is tied for the lead with Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, who suffered a late bogey on the par-five 15th to drop into a share of the lead.

Last year, Sorenstam finished at 18-under-par 270 en route to an impressive eight-shot victory. On Thursday she carded six birdies after a bogey on her second hole.

Ochoa, who won last week’s Morelia Championship in her native Mexico and leads the LPGA Tour money list, claimed six birdies in her round at the Palm Desert event.

Lee Seon-Hwa of Korea and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson are both a shot back after rounds of 68.

Michelle Wie, who turned 17 on Wednesday, will have to make up quite a bit of ground on the leaders after an opening 74 that included a double-bogey and quadruple-bogey as well as an eagle.