Sorenstam ends storied career with birdie, seventh-place finish

It ended with a birdie, a standing ovation and a seventh-place finish for Annika Sorenstam, leaving the Hall of Fame golfer with no regrets after the final stroke of her career.

The Swedish star shot a 1-under 71 on Sunday at the Dubai Ladies Masters, finishing in seventh place, 6 shots behind winner Anja Monke after an 8-foot birdie at No. 18 drew a standing ovation from the packed gallery.

"I felt at peace. I really felt very content," Sorenstam said. "I walked up to hit my third shot on the 18th, and I felt the breeze coming in, and it was just a really comfortable feeling. I saw some players standing behind the 18th green, that gave me a tear. I saw my parents and my family and that give me a tear."

Australian Open: Tim Clark beat Matthew Goggin on the first hole of a playoff to win the Australian Open in Sydney.

Clark, who shot a 5-under 67 in his final round for a total of 9-under 279, had given up hope of winning the championship at the Royal Sydney Golf Club when the South African finished his final round 2 shots behind on-course leader David Smail of New Zealand.

But Smail (75) double-bogeyed the 15th and 16th holes to crash out of contention and Clark, eating a pie and chips in the clubhouse, had to return to the practice tee to prepare for a playoff with Australia's Goggin (69).

Clark put his second shot on the par 4 18th into a greenside bunker but made par while Goggin's shorter putt caught the left edge of the cup and wouldn't drop.

Goggin had to accept the runner-up check for the second week in a row after finishing second at last week's Australian PGA.

Smail finished in a tie for third place with Australians Robert Allenby (71) and Stephen Dartnall (72).

Alfred Dunhill Championship: Richard Sterne made par on the difficult 18th hole for a 3-under 69 that gave him a 1-shot victory over Johan Edfors and Robert Rock at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Malelane, South Africa.

The South African had a birdie at No. 15 to take the lead and then held on to beat Edfors (66) and Rock (70), finishing the tournament at Leopard Creek at 17-under 271.

Len Mattiace of the United States, who was 1 stroke off the lead going into the final round, dropped to 14th after a double-bogey on the 15th and a triple-bogey on the last.