Annika Sorenstam was pleased with her two-under-par opening round at the LPGA Championship, despite lying four off the pace in the season's second women's major.

Annika Sorenstam was pleased with her two-under-par opening round at the LPGA Championship, despite lying four off the pace in the season's second women's major.

"I played very, very well," the world No.2 said. "I hit the ball beautifully. Very happy. Just didn't make some putts today, unfortunately."

The early lead was shared by the unlikely pairing of 43-year-old Canadian Lorie Kane and the American Emily Bastel, 16 years her junior, who shot her career-best round of 66 in rain-softened conditions.

"It is so wet out there. You can fire at the pins," said the 37-year-old Sorenstam, who announced last month she would retire from competitive golf at the end of the year.

nThe first day's play of the Bank Austria Open in Vienna was washed out without a single shot being struck.

Almost three inches of rain over the last two days left parts of Fontana Golf Club under water and may lead to the event being reduced to 54 holes.

Tournament director Miguel Vidaor said: "We will have to make a decision before the second round starts as to whether we go for four rounds or three rounds.

"If we go for four we will probably have to cut to 50 and ties instead of 65 and ties. If we don't cut to 50 we might have to play just three rounds."

A Monday finish is a possibility but would present a number of logistical problems, especially with Euro 2008 about to start in Austria and Switzerland.

The tournament was originally scheduled to finish at 5pm on Sunday to coincide with Austria's opening game with Croatia in nearby Vienna.