Sorenstam celebrates play-off triumph

Annika Sorenstam claimed her fifth major title with a thrilling play-off victory, while Wales' Becky Morgan tied for sixth after a marathon final day at the LPGA Championship at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, yesterday.

The Swedish world No 1 had to play 33 holes after Saturday's rain delay and she was never quite at her best in returning two scores of 72, which allowed South Korea's Grace Park to match her six-under-par 278 total with fine rounds of 70 and 67. However, in sudden-death, Sorenstam made par at the tricky 18th while Park, seeking her first major, failed to get up and down from a muddy lie in the rough short of the green at the par-four hole.

The win completed an impressive three weeks for Sorenstam as she followed her appearance on the men's PGA Tour at Colonial with a win in the LPGA's Kellogg Keebler Classic in Chicago. "This is amazing," she said after clinching her 45th LPGA career title and a £160,000 first prize. "This is the title I really wanted to win. I was focussing on the majors this year and it feels so good to have pulled it off."

The victory took Sorenstam a step closer to a career Grand Slam. Winner of two US Opens and two Kraft Nabisco Championships, she now needs a British Open to complete the set of the women's four majors. She will have the chance to achieve it at Royal Lytham in August.

Morgan was the best British performer in a five-way tie for sixth after rounds of 70 and 72. "It was a great day," said the 28-year-old. "The difference is that I've started to hole some putts and the confidence is flowing."