Golf

Lorena Ochoa Wins 4th LPGA Event In 4 Weeks

World No. 1 Takes Ginn Open With 3-Under-69 On Final Day

REUNION, Fla. (AP) ― Lorena Ochoa grabbed the giant, shell-shaped glass bowl with one hand and held up four fingers with the other.

Four weeks, four tournaments, four wins.

The 26-year-old Mexican star became the first LPGA Tour player in 45 years to win four events in consecutive weeks. She shot a 3-under 69 in the final round of the Ginn Open on Sunday and beat rookie Yani Tseng (71) by three strokes for her fifth victory in six starts this year.

"I made it," Ochoa said. "I survived. I was tired, mentally and physically tired. I didn't have, you know, many legs at the end in the last two or three holes. I kept thinking I'm tired, and you know, a few more minutes I will be done.

"So I'm just glad I hung in there and I was able to finish strong. ... And, for sure, I'm ready to take a break."

Her colleagues are probably just as eager for Ochoa to take a week off.

The world's No. 1 player has pretty much dominated the tour in recent months, winning 10 of her past 15 starts.

Her first four victories this year were by a combined 34 strokes. This one was much closer.

Ochoa trailed early in the final round, but went ahead for good with three straight birdies beginning at No. 8. She finished 19 under and became the second player to win four times in as many weeks.

Mickey Wright did it in 1962 and 1963. Kathy Whitworth (1969) and Annika Sorenstam (2001) also won four consecutive events, but both had a week off during their runs.

Sorenstam (2004-05) and Nancy Lopez (1978) hold the tour record with five straight victories in events entered, but neither of those came in consecutive weeks.

Ochoa will try to match that feat in two weeks in Tulsa, Okla. In the meantime, she planned to savor being on top.

"I'm very grateful. It's been a blessing, you know," Ochoa said. "But I know that bad times will come. It's just the way life is. I'm just trying to enjoy my moment, and I would like to enjoy it for a long time. So even if it's going to be an up-and-down ride, hopefully I can stay there."

Ochoa talked all week about how tiring it was to play four straight events, especially since last week's victory came in her native country and was filled with visits from friends and family members, plus countless media and sponsorship requests.

But even with a little less energy, she was better than everyone else at the Ginn.

"She's proven that she's our top player," fellow golfer Paula Creamer said. "She's set that mark pretty high."

Tseng had several chances to make it closer, but the 19-year-old from Taiwan three-putted four times and bogeyed three of the final six holes. She finished 16 under, five shots ahead of third-place Teresa Lu (72) and Suzann Pettersen (71).

Tseng's tumble made it easier for Ochoa down the stretch.

Ochoa tapped in for par on No. 18, then raised both arms in celebration. She won a car and $390,000, increasing her 2008 earnings to $1,440,500.

She also took home another trophy, which is starting to become a problem.

"I'm going to ask my mom where should we put it," Ochoa said.

Ochoa won eight times in 2007 and has been even better to start '08. She opened with an 11-stroke victory in Singapore, defended her Safeway International title with a seven-stroke romp, won the season's first major by five shots and then went wire-to-wire last week in Mexico and won by 11.

"She's really No. 1," Tseng said.

The past four weeks proved it.

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