CLIFTON, New Jersey (AFP) - Annika Sorenstam may be planning her retirement, but she clearly wants to go out with a bang.
The Swedish superstar carded a five-under-par 67 to seize a share of the first-round lead in the Sybase Classic on Thursday, alongside Australian Rachel Hetherington and South Korean Song Hee Kim.
Sorenstam, a former world No.1 and winner of 10 major titles, said Tuesday that this would be her last year on the LPGA tour.
She has 72 career LPGA wins, including three this season.
Sorenstam arrived at Upper Montclair Country Club fresh from victories in her last two starts. She kept up the momentum, capitalizing on ideal playing conditions to post a bogey-free round.
"Although I am going to retire at the end of the season, I still want to give my best every time I play," Sorenstam said. "Today was very good."
Sorenstam was steady if not spectacular, nabbing three birdies on the front nine and two on the back side.
She held the clubhouse lead before she was joined by Kim and Hetherington.
Sorenstam received a warm welcome from fans.
"I've got a lot of nice feedback, and several people say, 'don't retire. We love you, come out and play,'" Sorenstam said.
"It's very positive. So that was obviously different because in the past it's been 'good to see you again,' and now they say, 'don't leave us.'"
"I'm just very happy the way I'm playing," Sorenstam said. "I worked very hard this winter, and it's all coming together. My swing feels really good and my putting feels good. So this is the way I enjoy the game. It's fairways and greens."
Kim also enjoyed a bogey-free round while Hetherington had six birdies and a bogey.
"It's exciting to be in good contention with good players," Hetherington said. "I think it makes you play better. It gives you confidence and that's what I'm going to build on."
Lorena Ochoa, the world's top-ranked player, was in a group of six players just one shot off the lead.
Ochoa, who notched five birdies and one bogey, has never been beaten in this tournament, having won both the 2006 event at Wykagl in New York and last year in the first year here at Upper Montclair.
"It was a good day. It was very good from the tee," Ochoa said. "I just play the way I always play, but it's always good to have memories."
Ochoa started her season with four tournaments in a row and five of her first six starts before finishing fifth at the SemGroup Championship and tied for 12th at last weekend's Michelob Ultra Open.
Also at four-under were Carolina Llano of Colombia, Brittany Lang, Teresa Lu of Taiwan, Pat Hurst and Briton Catriona Matthew.
