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Ochoa strolls to second Major success

  • Story Highlights
  • World number one Lorena Ochoa pwers to victory in the Kraft Nabisco event
  • The Mexican finishes five strokes clear of her rivals following a final round 67
  • Ochoa is the first woman to win consecutive majors since Sorenstam in 2005
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RANCHO MIRAGE, California -- World number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico won her second women's major championship in a row after strolling to a five-stroke victory at the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship.

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Lorena Ochoa becomes the first woman since Annika Sorenstam in 2005 to win consecutive Majors.

Ochoa fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 in the final round, sinking a testing five-meter par putt at the final hole to finish 72 holes on 11-under par 277 at the $2m tournament.

"It was a great day, not making any bogeys. The last hole was very special," Ochoa said.

Second-ranked Swede Annika Sorenstam and Norway's Suzann Pettersen shared second place on 282 after firing final-round 68s with Sweden's Maria Hjorth fourth on 283.

"Lorena has just outplayed us during the four days," Pettersen said. "You have to play your best every round, play your heart out (to beat her)."

Ochoa became the first woman to win consecutive major golf titles since Sorenstam in 2005 by opening and closing the front nine with back-to-back birdies and adding another at the 10th before closing with eight pars.

"I don't know how long it's going to go but I sure am feeling it right now," Ochoa said. "I always want to win. I'm trying to enjoy the moment as much as I can."

Sorenstam, who was seeking her fourth victory at the season's first LPGA major, battled back after illness issues on Saturday but could not mount a threat to challenge the women who ended her reign as No.1.

"I came out rested and with more energy. I felt better. I felt good about the way I was playing," Sorenstam said. "A little moementum, a couple of birdies, I thought maybe I could put a little pressure on her. I don't weven know if she moticed."

Ochoa celebrated by taking the traditional victory jump into the pond surrounding the 18th green.

"You know, it was a great day," Ochoa said. "I woke up this morning and I was feeling great and I had a good feeling and just trying to not get too uptight and be calm and do my routine.

"For some reason I couldn't stop thinking of that jump in the lake. It was something that I've been waiting for for a long time."

The lake was about the only thing to cool off Ochoa, who has three victories and a tie for eighth in four tournaments this season.

In capturing her second major championship to go along with last year's Women's British Open, Ochoa registered her 20th career victory and the 11th since the start of 2007.

"I think I feel that I'm prepared and it's not something that happened in one morning," Ochoa said of her enormous success.

"It took me five years to get to the top and really feel comfortable with the position. But it's definitely tough, probably tougher than I thought, but it's worth it. I'm going to enjoy my time at the top as much as I can, because it's really been a blessing." E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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