Annika Sorenstam, two days after announcing her upcoming retirement from competitive golf, shared the lead Thursday after one round of the Sybase Classic.

After her announcement Tuesday that she would step down at the end of this season, she threw out the first pitch at a New York Mets game and appeared on a late-night, network television show.

She then went out Thursday and shot a 5-under 67 at the Upper Montclair Country Club and was tied for the lead with Song-Hee Kim and Rachel Hetherington.

Two-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa, who has supplanted Sorenstam as the No. 1 player in women's golf, was one shot back.

It's been a busy week, so it was kind of nice this morning to tee off and then walk inside the ropes, Sorenstam said.

Several members of the gallery called out pleas to Sorenstam not to retire.

Ochoa has failed to challenge in either of her last two starts after winning four straight tournaments. Sorenstam won last week's Michelob Ultra Open.

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