Lorena Ochoa showed why she is currently world number one by surging to victory in 2007 Ricoh Women?s British Open at St Andrews. It is her first Major championship and dispels any lingering thoughts that she didn?t have the mental capacity to win one of the game?s biggest titles.
The 25-year-old Mexican dominated the first women?s Open to take place at the home of golf from start to finish. Her first round 67 was the equal lowest round of the tournament and meant she was two shots clear of the field on Thursday night. It was a position she never relinquished.
Strong winds and tough conditions on Friday and Saturday had left the field spread out and Ochoa started the final day with a six-shot lead. Sweden?s Maria Hjorth and Jee Young Lee of South Korea proved to be the closest challengers, but Ochoa was never in danger after opening up an eight-shot lead with birdies at 5 and 6.
The Mexican has come close before, most notably at the 2005 Kraft Nabisco Championship, and a few nerves were set jangling when she bogeyed the famous 17th. However a championship par up the last was enough for a four-shot victory.
?I believed I would win the tournament on Monday when I first started practising,? said Ochoa, who had plenty of support in the crowd. ?I have my whole family here and a lot of friends so we will get together and maybe even I will have some tequila.?
Scot Catriona Matthew was the highest British finisher, ending tied for seventh.
Ricoh?s Women?s British Open
-5 Lorena Ochoa (MEX)
-1 Jee Young Lee (KOR)
-1 Maria Hjorth (SWE)
Par Reilley Rankin (USA)
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