subject: Myazato's Victory In Mexico [print this page] Myazato's Victory In Mexico Myazato's Victory In Mexico
On Sunday's final round of the Tres Marais Championship in Mexico, Mexico's World No 1 Lorena Ochoa and Japan's Ai Miyazato triumphed.
Both of these two golfers are of their country's best loved sporting personalities. Miyazato, who Ochoa has rated as one of the most likeable chracters on the LPGA Tour, secured her third Tour title of the season at Tres Marias as world number one Lorena Ochoa bowed out in an emotional farewell to the sport. Miyazato, who led after 18 and 54 holes, took advantage of a double bogey by closest pursuer Michelle Wie at the par-three 13th to beat the American by two shots and Wie's compatriot, Stacy Lewis, by one, finishing six under par for the day for a 19-under total.
The Japanese star shared the limelight with Ochoa on the 18th green, with the Mexican receiving rapturous applause in Morelia in her last event before retirement. Two-time major winner Ochoa, who has been the top-ranked player in the world for the last three years, finished with a two-under round of 71 to finish sixth. Miyazato won the opening two LPGA events of the season in Thailand and Singapore and has now added a third title in five events.
She finished strongly, registering six birdies from seven holes between the eighth and 14th to finish above Lewis and Wie. Kim In-Kyung of South Korea hit the best round of the day, a nine-under-par 64, to finish fourth. Miyazato made a composed winner at the prize-giving - until she started talking about Lorena Ochoa.
She said in tears,"I want to say thanks to Lorena," "I really appreciate what she did for the LPGA and what she did for her country here in Mexico." "She is one of my best friends. "I'm going to miss her."
Ochoa has held the No. 1 ranking since April 2007 but she will lose it with her best golf equipment at www.golfwholesale18.com when the rankings come out Monday, with World No 2 Jiyai Shin of Korea taking over after winning in Japan on Sunday. Miyazato will move up to third.
Ochoa swinging her last round with her golf clubs and saying goodbye. Walking down the first fairway, she stopped to kiss two young boys who were carrying the scoreboard. Approaching the second green, she was embraced by fellow player Christina Kim, who ran from the eighth green to hug her.
As Ochoa walked up the 18th fairway, thousands began waving white handkerchiefs - as they do to salute bullfighters - and shouted "Lo-re-na, Lo-re-na! in praise of Mexico's first ever golfing icon.
This is just like the prophetic, and perhaps it is.
