Newport, R.I. ? Annika Sorenstam had to wait 10 years to recapture the U.S. Women’s Open and thought it was in her hands Sunday when a 30-foot birdie putt broke gently toward the cup and started to dip into the hole.

But it rippled over the edge, sending her into an 18-hole playoff today against Pat Hurst.

Moments after Sorenstam’s birdie putt narrowly missed, Hurst made a superb par save from short of the 18th green, holing a five-foot putt that ended a marathon Sunday at Newport Country Club with everything but a winner.

Sorenstam recovered from an ugly collapse with three birdies on the back nine to shoot even-par 71. Hurst, who leads the tournament with 16 birdies, had a 2-under 69 to match the best score of the tournament.

They finished at even-par 284, and after the first 36-hole Sunday at the U.S. Women’s Open in 16 years, they headed home for one more round to decide who wins the biggest prize in women’s golf.

It will be the third straight LPGA Tour major that ends in a playoff, and the first at the U.S. Women’s Open since 2003.

Michelle Wie won’t be around for this one, either, although she had her chances.

The 16-year-old from Hawaii was tied for the lead with six holes to play until failing to save par from a bunker on the 13th hole, then making pars the rest of the way. She closed with a 72 and tied for third with Se Ri Pak and Stacy Prammanasudh at 2-over 286.

Juli Inkster, among five players tied for the lead at one point during the long day at Newport, lost her hope of becoming the oldest major champion in women’s golf when she three-putted for bogey on the par-3 16th. She closed with a 73 and finished another shot back.