In search of a sixth victory in the event, which would set yet another record for the world's top-ranked player, Sorenstam is tied for the lead with Mexico's World No 2 Lorena Ochoa, who suffered a home-stretch bogey on the par-five 15th to lose the outright lead.

Last year, Sorenstam finished at 18-under-par 270 en route to an impressive eight-shot victory. On Thursday she carded six birdies after a bogey on her second hole.

Ochoa, who won last week's Morelia Championship in her native Mexico and leads the LPGA Tour money list, claimed six birdies in her round at the Palm Desert event.

Lee Seon-Hwa of Korea and Sweden's Sophie Gustafson are both a shot back after rounds of 68.

Michelle Wie, who turned 17 on Wednesday, will have to make up quite a bit of ground on the leaders after an opening up-and-down 74 that included a double-bogey and quadruple-bogey as well as an eagle.

ALL THE 1ST ROUND SCORES
(USA unless stated, par 72):

67 Annika Sorenstam (Swe), Lorena Ochoa (Mex)

68 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor), Sophie Gustafson (Swe)

70 Paula Creamer, Stacy Prammanasudh

71 Karrie Webb (Aus), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Cristie Kerr

72 Sherri Steinhauer, Pat Hurst

74 Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis, Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor), Meena Lee (Kor)

75 Juli Inkster

76 Brittany Lincicome, Hee-Won Han (Kor)

78 Jeong Jang (Kor)

79 Gwladys Nocera (Fra)