DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Annika Sorenstam won the Dubai Ladies Masters by two strokes on Sunday in her first victory since she won here in 2006. The Swede closed with 2-under 70 to finish at 10-under 278 at the season-ending tournament of the Ladies European Tour.
"I am so happy to have finally won again," Sorenstam said.
Overnight leader Iben Tinning of Denmark had a double bogey at the last hole and finished with a 73 to tie for second with England's Laura Davies, who shot a 72.
Six players, including halfway leader Lisa Hall, tied for fourth at 6-under 282.
Sophie Gustafson of Sweden won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit after finishing 3-under and tied for 15th -- good enough to beat Bettina Hauert of Germany, who tied for 65th.
Gustafson earned $320,519 for the season compared to Hauert's $317,318.
For much of the last round at the Emirates Golf Club, it was a three-way battle for the title -- with Sorenstam, Tinning and Davies tied for the lead at 9 under after 10 holes.
Davies was the first out of contention with bogeys on the 12th and 15th holes, before finishing with a birdie on the 18th.
Tinning went to 10 under with a birdie on the 11th. She could have increased her lead on the 16th, but her birdie putt from 15 feet stopped just short of the hole.
Sorenstam joined Tinning at 10 under with a birdie on the 17th, where she made a 16-foot putt.
On the final hole, Tinning tried to make the par-5 green with her second shot, but the ball rolled back into the water guarding the front of the green. Sorenstam laid up and then made par for the win.
After missing a chunk of the year due to a neck injury, the 37-year-old Sorenstam was close to going a full season without a victory for the first time since her rookie season in 1994.
"This is a very special win," she said. "It's been a tough year for me inside the ropes and I've missed the feeling of moments such as this."
Now she has her sights set on regaining top spot in the world rankings -- a position she lost to Mexico's Lorena Ochoa last April.
"I want to get back to the top and this is definitely extra motivation to work hard and be ready for 2008," she added.
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