Sorenstam shot rounds of 73 and 71, while Hurst had a 75 and a 69 to remain as they were at halfway – in a tie for top spot.

The pair finished two shots ahead of 16-year-old Michelle Wie (73), South Korea’s Pak Se Ri (69) and American Stacy Prammanasudh (72)

For Wie, it was another close call in a bid for a first professional victory. It was her seventh top 10 from 11 majors, but her first in this championship.

Sorenstam looked set for victory when she took an early two-shot lead in the final round.

But a double-bogey at the seventh where she hit her second into a creek and bogeys at the eighth and ninth sent her backwards.

But she bounced back with birdies at the 10th, 15th and 16th to forge ahead again before failing to get up and down for par at the short 17th and opening the door to playing partner Hurst.

Hurst led after chipping in for a birdie three at the eighth, but she also let slip a few shots over the back nine before making a great up and down at the 18th to secure another chance.

Sorenstam is seeking her third US Open crown to set alongside wins in 1995 and 1996, and a 10th career major, while 37-year-old Hurst is seeking a second major to set alongside the 1998 Kraft Nabisco Championship and it promises to be quite a showdown for the biggest prize and most coveted title in women’s golf.

Scot Catriona Matthew was the best of the British players in 19th place after final day rounds of 72 and 73. She was one ahead of Kent’s Karen Stupples, who had rounds of 70 and 76.