Lorena Ochoa survived a double-bogey on the penultimate hole to
become the first player in LPGA history to earn US$4 million in a
season with a two-shot victory at the ADT Championship on
Sunday.
The Mexican world No. 1 recovered with a birdie at the last for
a four-under-par 68 to hold off a late charge by playing partner
Natalie Gulbis and claim her eighth title of the year in
Florida.
American Gulbis, bidding for her second LPGA victory, birdied
two of the last six holes for a 70 to secure second place,
finishing two ahead of compatriot Paula Creamer (72).
"It was very important for me to finish with a win this week," a
beaming Ochoa told reporters after ending her 2007 campaign with
earnings of US$4,364,994 from 25 LPGA starts.
She had clinched LPGA player of the year honors for the second
season in a row with a four-shot victory at last month's Samsung
World Championship.
"It's all about breaking records," the 26-year-old added. "It
was not only about the money list but winning also eight
tournaments this season. It's been amazing from the start to the
end."
Ochoa initially appeared to be cruising toward the winner's
prize of US$1 million in the final-round shootout at Trump
International Golf Club.
The Guadalajara native birdied four of the first six holes and
picked up another shot at the par-five ninth to reach the turn five
strokes clear.
After a run of seven consecutive pars, she stumbled with a
three-putt double bogey at the treacherous par-three 17th before
setting up her sixth birdie of the day with a superb approach from
the rough to three feet at the par-four last.
Ochoa, who replaced Swede Annika Sorenstam as the game's leading
player in April, calmly rolled in the putt to end the 2007 LPGA
season in triumphant style.
American Cristie Kerr picked up three shots over the final five
holes to claim fourth spot with a 74, four strokes better than
fifth-placed Kim Mi-hyun of South Korea who had led over the first
two days.
Former world No. 1 Karrie Webb of Australia propped up the
leaderboard after battling to an 84.
(Shanghai Daily via Agencies November 20, 2007)
