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Dominant Ochoa wins title
02/03/2008 15:04 - (SA)
Singapore - The world's top player Lorena Ochoa claimed the rain-interrupted HSBC Women's Champions tournament here on Sunday by an incredible 11 shots, leaving a stunned Annika Sorenstam a distant second.
Such is the Mexican's dominance of the current era that she was never going to give away her eight-shot third round lead, with the battle always about who would finish second.
Ochoa eventually carded a 20-under-par 268 to be crowned the 'Champion of Champions,' joining Phil Mickelson, who holds the men's HSBC title.
Swedish star Sorenstam took the runners-up honours with a solid 71 to end the tournament at nine under-par 279, two ahead of Paula Creamer, who won the Fields Open a week ago.
America's Laura Diez came fourth while another American, Stacy Prammanasudh, and veteran Australian Karrie Webb tied for fifth.
"It's been a fantastic week. I only made three or four mistakes throughout and I made a lot of putts, it's one of my best ever," said the 26-year-old Ochoa.
"I came here to win and I did it. I knew I could do it because I have a lot of faith in my game and I hope this is going to be a great year for me.
Playd rookie season in 2003
"I learned a lot, and I took my game to a new level, so I'm going to keep trying to repeat myself."
Regarded as one of Mexico's finest athletes ever, Ochoa played her rookie season in 2003 but it was not until 2006 that she really delivered on a childhood promise to be the best in the world.
She won six times that year and followed it up with another eight titles in 2007, including her first Major. She also wrenched the world number one ranking from Sorenstam along the way.
After a one-hour delay for torrential rain, Ochoa shattered any hopes the chasing pack had of catching her by making birdies on the third and fourth holes while playing partners Sorenstam and Creamer only managed pars or worse.
It stretched her lead to 10 strokes and there was no looking back.
Sudden downpours forced the players off two more times but it failed to break Ochoa's focus and she wrapped it up with a par on the last as the light faded for victory in her first event in three months.
Ochoa was untouchable
Sorenstam said that despite losing she took positives from the week, and insisted she could match Ochoa this season, setting the scene for an intriguing rivalry.
"It's been tough. I've played really well, just haven't performed well on the greens," said the 37-year-old.
"It kind of wore me out a little bit. I'm obviously happy with the finish. I mean, there was nothing to do about Lorena this particular week, but I finished strong and that's what I'm going to take from this week."
Asked if Ochoa was now on a different level, the Swede replied: "She's playing well, but it's nothing I don't think that's not achievable by any means."
Creamer too acknowledged that Ochoa was untouchable in Singapore.
"Lorena played awesome; what are you going to do? This was her tournament, her golf course," she said, but added that her own confidence was high after winning in Hawaii and taking third place here.
"I'm ready for the season to start, the big chunks of it, the majors and all."
It was remarkable that the tournament finished with the greens completely flooded at one point. Only the Tanah Merah Country Club's exemplary drainage system saved the day.
The tournament brought together the Major winners of the past three years and all of the 2007 winners on the LPGA along with champions from all the world's other leading women's tours.
- AFP
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