Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam, who confirmed earlier this week that this will be her final season on the LPGA Tour, carded a five-under-par 67 to share the lead after the first round of the Sybase Classic in New Jersey.

The 37-year-old 10-time major winner had a flawless five-birdie round and was tied with South Korea's Song-Hee Kim and Australia's eight-time Tour winner Rachel Hetherington.

They led by a shot from a group of six that included Scotland's Catriona Matthew and world number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico.

"Although I am going to retire at the end of the season, I still want to give my best every time I play," said Sorenstam afterwards.