RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) -Lorena Ochoa, the Mexican star who once struggled in the majors, now is making them look easy.Ochoa continued her dominance of women’s golf Sunday with a five-shot victory in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, giving her the last two majors by a combined nine shots. She was the only player without a bogey in the final round on a tough Mission Hills course, closing with a 5-under 67 and taking the greatest swim of her life.
She won by five shots over Suzann Pettersen and Annika Sorenstam, among many major champions being left behind in the massive wake of Ochoa, who has won three out of four tournaments this year by a combined 23 shots.
“Nothing can stop her,” said Se Ri Pak, who became the youngest player inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year, a record that certainly will be broken by the 26-year-old Ochoa.
Ochoa, who finished at 11-under 277, never trailed under the blazing desert sun, and was threatened only briefly. But she fired off three straight birdies around the turn to build a five-shot lead, and kept it simple with pars the rest of the way.
This was the 20th anniversary of when Amy Alcott began the Nabisco tradition of the winner jumping into the lake surrounding the 18th green, but there has rarely been such a festive moment.
A mariachi band serenaded Ochoa with “Canta y no llores,” which translates to “Sing and don’t cry.” Ochoa grabbed hands with her parents and sister-in-law, sprinted toward the water and jumped with both arms in the air. Her brother, Alejandro, coach Rafael Alcaron and caddie Dave Brooker leapt from the bridge. Before long, there were two dozen friends and family in the water, bobbing to the rhythm of the mariachi band and celebrating another major championship.
“They’re all sweet,” Ochoa said.
Sorenstam, who battled a stomach virus on the weekend, tried to give Ochoa a run but could never get closer than three shots. She closed with a 68 and tied for second with Pettersen, who also had a 68.
Even healthy, it’s doubtful she could have had enough to stop Ochoa.
Sorenstam was impressed that Ochoa would handle the pressure of playing before what amounts to a home crowd in the California desert, with Mexican flags at every turn, and with the memories of blowing good chances at Mission Hills the last two years.
“She has come out as the leader and is staying as the leader,” Sorenstam said. “That takes a lot of courage, takes a lot of guys and it takes a good athlete. I could be wrong, but I think the goal for her is just to take one tournament at a time and try to win each one of them. And it turns out to be the last two majors. I’m sure it won’t be the last, either.”
When asked about Ochoa’s play, second place finisher Suzannn Pettersen said: “No, I really didn’t follow. But I mean, the only thing I could do today was go out and try to shoot low and hopefully she (Ochoa) will make some mistakes coming down the stretch.” Ochoa didn’t.
Ochoa earned $300,000 for her 20th victory, and is one point away from the performance criteria of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She could get that next week with a victory in Mexico, although Ochoa would have to wait until she completes 10 years on the LPGA Tour, which would be 2012.
“Even when I was on a roll, I don’t think I ever dominated like this,” said Karrie Webb, who won five out of eight majors from 1999 through 2001, when she ruled the LPGA. “People don’t understand how hard it is to stay on top of your game like that. I did it for a few years. Annika did it for five. Tiger has done it for 12.”
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