US Women's Open: Annika Sorenstam clinched the third US women's Open title of her career in a play-off with Pat Hurst at Newport Rhode Island yesterday.

Sorenstam, who won in 1995 and 1996, won the play-off by four shots with a one-under round of 70, after leading by five shots at the turn.

It is only the second tournament the world number one has won this year. "It's been a long wait and a long road. The way the season has gone, to win the Open is ironic," she said.

Sorenstam's margin of victory was the biggest play-off win since Kathy Cornelius won by seven shots 50 years ago.

It was the 10th major win of her career, which ties her fourth in the all-time standings with Babe Zaharias. It also means Sorenstam has won a major in each of the last six years, the second-longest streak in LPGA history.

Michelle Wie, Stacy Prammanasudh and Se Ri Pak finished two shots behind Sorenstam and Hurst, who was trying to become the first American to win a major since Meg Mallon's 2004 US Open triumph.

Hurst and Sorenstam had tied on level-par 284 after four rounds but the Swede dominated the extra 18 holes.

Sorenstam gained a two-stroke advantage at the first, holing from eight feet for birdie while Hurst three-putted for bogey and by the turn had stretched that lead to five shots.

Sorenstam birdied the 12th to move six clear before Hurst finally got one back with a par at the short 13th and finished the day in style, making her first birdie from 45 feet at the last.

FINAL TOTALS (US unless stated) 284 - A Sorenstam (Swe) 69 71 73 71, P Hurst 69 71 75 69. Sorenstam 70 beat Hurst 74 in 18 holes play-off. 286 - M Wie 70 72 71 73, S Prammanasudh 72 71 71 72, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 69 74 74 69 287 - J Inkster 73 70 71 73 291 - B Lincicome 72 72 69 78 292 - S Hyun Ahn (Kor) 71 71 74 76, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 74 72 73 73 293 - J Young Lee (Kor) 71 75 70 77, J Park 69 73 75 76, Y Kim (Kor) 75 69 75 74, P Meunier-Lebouc (Fra) 72 73 73 75, S Gustafson (Swe) 72 72 71 78, A Blumenherst 70 77 73 73 294 - P Creamer 71 72 76 75, S Turner 72 74 76 72, N Gulbis 76 71 74 73 295 - C Matthew (Sco) 74 76 72 73 296 - K Stupples (Eng) 78 72 70 76, G Park (Kor) 70 78 76 72, L Ochoa (Mex) 71 73 77 75, K Tucker (Swe) 72 74 74 76 297 - A Hung (Tha) 76 72 77 72, L Kane (Can) 73 72 75 77, S Waugh (Aus) 77 72 73 75, S Steinhauer 72 75 72 78. Others 298 - Becky Morgan (Wal) 70 74 77 77.