Ochoa romps to second major victory by five shots

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (Reuters) - World number one Lorena Ochoa underlined her dominance in the women's game by charging to a second successive major title by five shots at the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Mexican, a stroke ahead overnight, fired a flawless five-under-par 67 to pull away from the field on a breezy sun-drenched day at Mission Hills Country Club.

Ochoa, who clinched her first major title at last year's Women's British Open, closed the door on the chasing pack with a three-birdie run from the eighth before finishing at 11-under 277.

It was the 20th LPGA victory of her career, and her third this year in just four starts.

Three-times champion Annika Sorenstam, who considered withdrawing during Saturday's third round because of intense stomach pain, signed off with a 68 to tie for second place.

The Swedish world number two piled up five birdies and a lone bogey to finish at six under, level with Norway's Suzann Pettersen (68).

FAST START

Ochoa, who had romped to a seven-shot victory at last week's Safeway International, made a fast start to the final round at Mission Hills with birdies on the first two holes.

She rolled in a six-footer at the par-four first and birdied the par-five second for the fourth day in a row after reaching the green in two and two-putting.

Playing partner South Korea's Han Hee-won briefly turned on the heat with birdies at the fourth and sixth, rolling in putts from 15 and 10 feet to close to within a stroke of the lead.

However, the 2001 LPGA rookie of the year slipped out of title contention with bogeys at the seventh, eighth and ninth.

Ochoa stretched further ahead by coaxing in a left-to-right breaking birdie putt from 12 feet at the eighth before sinking another from 10 feet at the par-five ninth.

Four ahead at the turn, she then stretched her lead to five with a 25-foot birdie putt at the 10th before thrusting both arms skywards in celebration.

The Mexican maintained her cushion by parring the last eight holes, sinking an eight-footer on the 18th green before again raising both hands to celebrate her 15th LPGA victory in her last 37 starts.

(Editing by Miles Evans)