No negative memories for Ochoa in U.S. Women's Open bid

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Lorena Ochoa has set her sights on a triumphant week at the U.S. Women's Open after burying memories of two close calls at the tournament in the last three years.

In 2005 at Cherry Hills, the Mexican was in contention before driving into water and taking an eight at the final hole. Last year at Pine Needles, she was tied for the lead with five holes to play before dropping back into a tie for second.

"Both really hurt me at the time," world number one Ochoa, 26, told reporters at Interlachen Country Club on Tuesday.

"At Cherry Hills, I was too young. It was not meant to be. My life would be different today if I (had) won the U.S. Open. And last year I thought: 'I don't know why, maybe I'll win the British Open.' So I understand the reasons why I didn't win.

"I don't think I was ready to control all the things that happen when you win a major. It's not just about making the putt and getting the trophy, there's all the attention, the pressure and the commitments."

Ochoa went on to clinch her first major victory in last year's British Open at St. Andrews, one of eight LPGA titles she piled up in a glittering 2007 campaign.

"I know where I made the mistakes and, with the adrenalin and the pressure, I did swing a couple of times really fast," she recalled of her near misses at the U.S. Women's Open.

"I want to make sure that doesn't happen (this week). I'm ready for this one."

NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

Ochoa, who finished two strokes behind American Cristie Kerr at Pine Needles last year, said she had learned to banish negative thoughts on the golf course as soon as possible.

"I'm just not too hard on myself," added the Guadalajara native, who will start Thursday's opening round at Interlachen as heavy favorite when she launches her bid for a third major victory in four starts.

"After making the mistakes, I'm good at grabbing them and putting them behind me.

"I remember my psychology coach saying: 'Just grab the shot and put it in the trash, don't look back. It's not worth it to just let that stick on you, have that in your head going back and forth. I'm just good at that. It makes everything easier."

This week's tournament is being staged on a par-73 layout measuring 6,789 yards, the longest ever at a U.S. Women's Open.

Ochoa expects to make the most of her prodigious length off the tee but is wary of Interlachen's severely sloping greens.

"Hopefully we (long hitters) have an advantage, and not only on the par-fives," she said. "It helps being able to hit an eight-iron (for an approach) instead of a six or a five.

"But these greens are something else," added the Mexican who won this year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, by five shots. "Even when you have a 25-foot putt, just make sure you have an uphill putt.

"I really need to be patient, smart and low-key, and have a good pace (on the greens) to play well all week. But I'm ready. This is going to be a good challenge."

(Editing by John Mehaffey)