Roundup | Again, Ochoa puts her mark on LPGA Tour

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Moments after Lorena Ochoa tapped in for par, she saw her family and friends storming the 18th green at Bighorn.

Her cousin wrapped a Mexican flag around her, and everyone else soaked her with champagne, just as they do whenever she wins on the LPGA Tour.

No victory tasted sweeter than Sunday at the Samsung World Championship.

Ochoa took a huge step toward winning LPGA Tour player of the year, collecting all the big awards and possibly ushering in a new era in women's golf. And she did it by soundly beating Annika Sorenstam, turning a three-shot deficit into a two-shot victory with a 7-under 65.

"It was probably my best round of golf in my professional career," Ochoa said.

It was a jolt to Sorenstam.

The 36-year-old Swede has dominated women's golf the past five years until hitting a few speed bumps this season. She contended in only one major, winning the U.S. Women's Open, has won only three times and needed to finish strong to be player of the year for the sixth consecutive season.

Leading by three shots going into the final round, and by two shots at the turn, Sorenstam was rendered helpless by Ochoa, one of the most dynamic players in the game. Ochoa twice holed long putts, including a 60-footer for birdie at No. 10 that banged into the back of the cup, then briefly hopped out before falling.

"I really don't know what to say other than just to congratulate Lorena on a great performance and a great week and a great year," Sorenstam said after a 70 that featured three bogeys. "I'm probably as disappointed as you can be. It just doesn't get any worse than this. I gave it all I had this week. She just played very, very well."

Ochoa finished at 16-under 272 for her fifth victory of the year, tops on the LPGA Tour. Ochoa earned $218,750 to take her earnings over $2.3 million. Even so, the biggest prize was beating Sorenstam.

"I knew it was about time," Ochoa said. "I knew I could do it. We're breaking a barrier today. It's very important to me. It has extra meaning, for sure. I'll go home next week and celebrate it."

Cool win for rookie

LAS VEGAS — Consistently hitting approach shots close and remaining cool on the tense final holes, rookie Troy Matteson shot a 3-under 69 to win the Frys.com Open for his first PGA Tour victory.

Matteson held off Ben Crane and Daniel Chopra by a shot with his 22-under 265.

Jeff Gove of Kenmore finished with a 69 for a 13-under 274 to tie for 31st. He won $22,200. Ryan Moore of Puyallup stumbled to a 79 in the final round. His 3-over 290 put him in a tie for 85th and he won $6,760. Seattle's Fred Couples was disqualified for stopping play Saturday evening before play was suspended by darkness. He wasn't in contention.

OTHER TOURNAMENTS

• Jay Haas won his sixth career Champions Tour title when rain forced cancellation of the final round of the Administaff Small Business Classic in Spring, Texas. Haas took a five-stroke lead into the final round after shooting a 9-under 63 in the second round Saturday. Bruce Lietzke and Tom Purtzer tied for second place at 133 over 36 holes.

• Retief Goosen shot a 1-under 71 to hold off Michael Campbell by three strokes and successfully defend his China Masters title in Sanya, China. Goosen finished with a 21-under 267 total at Yalong Bay Golf Club.

• Brandt Snedeker, who missed five tournaments in August and September because of a broken collarbone, bounced back to win the Nationwide Tour's Permian Basin Charity Golf Classic at the Midland (Texas) Country Club. Jess Daley of Kent finished in a tie for 48th and won $1,650 after closing with a 75.