PHOENIX, March 17 (UPI) -- LPGA Tour superstar Annika Sorenstam bogeyed the final two holes of regulation Sunday before losing to Rachel Teske on the second playoff hole at the PING Banner Health.
Looking to defend her title and win for the third time in as many events this year, Sorenstam finished a 4-over-par 76 -- the worst of any player in the top 30 on Sunday -- with a pair of bogeys.
A miscue by the Swede at the 72nd hole of the Moon Valley Country Club forced a playoff with Teske, who birdied the 71st and carded a 1-under 71 to tie for the lead at 7-under 281.
Teske, an Australian who has played most of her career under her maiden name Hetherington, got up-and-down from a bunker to save par on the first sudden-death hole and birdied the second to claim her fifth career title.
Sorenstam settled for a runner-up finish -- the 32nd of her career. She already has won twice this year, claiming the Australian Masters and Takefuji Classic, which opened the LPGA Tour two weeks ago.
Last season, Sorenstam made history at this event, becoming the first woman to shoot 59 en route to one of eight titles.
Mi Hyun Kim of Korea, Japan's Akiko Fukushima and Cristie Kerr tied for third at 284. Juli Inkster and Jeong Jang of Korea were another shot back.
