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Ochoa makes LPGA return
16/08/2007 10:02 - (SA)
Canada - World number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico plays her first event since capturing her first major title at the Women's British Open when she tees off on Thursday at the Canadian Women's Open.
Ochoa finally made a breakthrough victory in a major by winning two weeks ago at St. Andrews, giving her an LPGA-best four triumphs and the season money lead with $2 299 090.
She has 14 top-10 finishes in 17 events this year.
"It was hard for me to get my first major victory. It's hard to express everything that happened in St Andrews. But for sure it was worth the wait," Ochoa said. "It was a great week I will remember for the rest of my life."
Ochoa has been pleased with her game off the tee but wants to improve on and around the greens to toughen her game and improve her consistency.
"I'm hitting the ball a little farther. I'm a lot more accurate with my driver, That makes things easier," Ochoa said. "I can improve my short game and especially my putting. More important is to be consistent every week."
Ochoa has no designs to play against PGA men the way Michelle Wie has numerous times or former world number one Annika Sorenstam did.
"Never say never but what I want to do is dominate where I am, in women's golf," Ochoa said.
"Annika, what she did I think was great because she needed to push herself and see how far she could go. But I don't have that opinion. I think it's much better just going one step at a time.
"Play junior golf, college golf, in the LPGA and then when you dominate and do all the big things, then maybe you can go ahead and play one week with the men."
Norway's Suzann Pettersen, second on the prize money list with just over $1m, seeks her third title of the season and a top prize of $337 500 at Royal Mayfair Golf Club.
US Open winner and defending Canadian Open champion Cristie Kerr, third on the money list, will defend the title she won last year by rallying from an eight-stroke deficit in the final round.
- AFP
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