Ochoa shrugs off slow start with fast finish at Interlachen

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Lorena Ochoa was delighted to finish with a flourish after making an untidy start to the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday.

The Mexican world number one birdied three of the last five holes in ideal scoring conditions to card a level-par 73 in the opening round at Interlachen Country Club.

Although frustrated by a return of three bogeys over the first 13 holes, Ochoa was satisfied to end the opening day six strokes off the pace.

"I'm really happy with my even par," the 26-year-old Guadalajara native told reporters. "I think that we all know that anything around par for the U.S. Open is always good.

"I'm a little bit disappointed I didn't take advantage of the great conditions but, at the same time, I feel that with three birdies I'm still in it and that's what's important.

"It was playing fairly easy in the morning and for sure I could have finished two, three under par and been in a better position. But the U.S. Open is always tough and I'm okay where I am, I guess."

Ochoa, who won this year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, by five shots, could not recall when she had last played 13 holes without registering a single birdie.

BEAUTIFUL CONDITIONS

"It's just too hard to believe you know," she said. "Beautiful conditions and actually the greens were soft. They put some water on last night and I didn't play aggressive enough.

"I hit at the ball a little bit bad in the middle of the round but luckily I finished with a birdie so I'm feeling good right now."

The long-hitting Mexican, who clinched her first major victory in last year's British Open at St. Andrews, reached the green in two at the par-five 18th to set up a two-putt birdie.

A five-iron to six feet at the par-three 14th and a nine-iron approach to a similar distance at the par-four 16th paved the way for her first two birdies.

"That's what you have to do at a U.S. Open, not be too hard on yourself, just be patient and wait for the birdie opportunities," she said.

"Sometimes you get tired of just waiting and waiting but I'm glad it happened. It was important to come back and finish even par."

(Editing by Martin Petty)