Defending champion Annika Sorenstam recorded seven birdies and a bogey on Saturday to move into prime position to defend her Samsung World Championship title.

With a six-under-par 66 in the third round she is now at 12-under 204 and leads by three shots in an event she has already won five times.

"I'm very happy with my round. I thought I played very solid," Sorenstam said. "I missed only one fairway and zero greens. I will take that on Saturday any day."

Sorenstam also has won here in 1995, 1996, 2002 and 2004 and joins Hall of Famer Mickey Wright as the only players in LPGA Tour history to win the same tournament five times.

If Sorenstam can three-peat, it will be her 70th tour victory.

Only Wright (82) and Kathy Whitworth (88) have more.

Lorena Ochoa carded a five-under 67 and is in second at nine-under 207.

A co-leader after the first round, Ochoa fired a bogey-free round with five birdies.

"I had a good day and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities," Ochoa said. "I know it's going to be tough. I'm ready to go and excited to be playing in the last group."

Sorenstam shared the lead with fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson and American Paula Creamer entering Saturday.

Gustafson is at eight-under after a round of 70 while Creamer slipped to a tie for fifth at six-under after a 72.

Sorenstam birdied four of her first seven holes before again running into trouble at the par-four ninth.

The Swedish superstar carded a double-bogey on number nine on Friday and dropped another shot there in the third round.

She rebounded with a birdie at number 10 and added two more coming in to extend her lead.

"I'm going to need everything I have," Sorenstam said.

"Lorena is having a fantastic year and has a lot of momentum on her side.

I know I will really have to go out and earn it. I have to post a low score."

While Sorenstam is looking for a historic win, Michelle Wie came back to the site of her professional debut looking for her first, but she is out of the running.

Wie, who turned 17 on Wednesday, carded her second consecutive round of even-par 72 and is tied for 13th, 14 shots off the pace.

"I was hitting the ball a lot more solid, a lot more consistent," Wie said. "I feel better and better, I just have to get some more birdies."

Last year, Wie finished fourth but was disqualified after the tournament ended for an improper drop made in the third round.

Collated third round scores & totals in the LPGA Tour Samsung World Championship, Bighorn Golf Club, Palm Desert, California, United States of America

(USA unless stated, par 72):

204 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 67 71 66

207 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 67 73 67

208 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 70 70

209 Stacy Prammanasudh 70 72 67

210 Paula Creamer 70 68 72, Cristie Kerr 71 71 68, Sherri Steinhauer 72 67 71

213 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 68 74 71, Pat Hurst 72 70 71

215 Karrie Webb (Aus) 71 69 75

216 Se Ri Pak (Kor) 71 74 71

217 Hee-Won Han (Kor) 76 68 73

218 Michelle Wie 74 72 72, Juli Inkster 75 70 73

219 Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor) 74 74 71, Brittany Lincicome 76 71 72

221 Natalie Gulbis 74 72 75, Jeong Jang (Kor) 78 73 70

222 Meena Lee (Kor) 74 69 79

225 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 79 72 74