Sorenstam successfully defends MasterCard Classic for first win of year March 12, 2006 GolfWeb Wire Services HUIXQUILUCAN, Mexico -- Annika Sorenstam had three birdies on the back nine and finished with a 2-under 70 Sunday to win her first LPGA Tour event of the year by one stroke at the MasterCard Classic. Advertisement The top-ranked female golfer, who also won this tournament a year ago, was at even par and tied for the lead after the first nine holes. But she reeled off three birdies in four holes to take the tournament with an 8-under 208 total. On the 18th hole, the Swede missed a short putt for par, but tapped in to take the victory. It was the 21st time the 35-year-old Sorenstam has successfully defended a tournament title. The event at Bosque Real Country Club, outside Mexico City, marked Sorenstam's first LPGA Tour start since winning the ADT Championship in November and her first competitive appearance since teaming with Liselotte Neumann in January to win the Women's World Cup in South Africa. Last year, Sorenstam also won in Mexico to start her season, closing with a 68 for a three-stroke victory. She has now won 11 of her last 21 LPGA Tour starts and has 67 career victories -- 21 short of Kathy Whitworth's record. South Korean Tour rookie Seon Hwa Lee had five birdies to offset three bogeys for a 70 and a share of second place at 7 under. Also finishing a stroke behind Sorenstam was Helen Alfredsson, who had an eagle on the 498-yard, par-4 12th to go with five birdies and two bogeys for a 67. Natalie Gulbis shot the final day's best round, recording seven birdies and a bogey to move to 6 under and tie for third with South Korea's Mi Hyun Kim. The 23-year-old California native missed 15-foot putts for birdie on Nos. 17 and 18 and finished her round a stroke behind Sorenstam, with the defending tournament champion still making her way through the back nine. But Gulbis said she would pack up and head to the airport for an afternoon flight, confident Sorenstam wouldn't make a mistake that could force a playoff. Annika Sorenstam has won 11 of her last 21 LPGA Tour starts and has 67 career victories. (Getty Images) "Come on. It's Annika Sorenstam, so you've got to go with experience there," Gulbis said. "You've gotta to expect that." The 29-year-old Kim began the final round tied with Sorenstam, but had two birdies and two bogeys to finish even for the day and 6 under for the tournament. Paula Creamer, the 2005 LPGA Rookie of the Year, also started the day with a share of the lead but shot even par to tie for third. Playing in front of thousands of fans who cheered and chanted for her through the weekend, Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa shot a 2-over 74 to finish 2 over for the tournament. That was a stroke worse than another native of the western city of Guadalajara, amateur Sophia Sheridan, who shot a 2-under 70 Sunday to finish 1 over. The 24-year-old Ochoa has three tournament wins in her three years on Ttour, but has not been a factor in any of a trio of tournaments played south of the border since March 2005. "This is like a major for me so I learned a lot," Ochoa said. "I know for sure that next week is going to be a lot easier."