Ochoa turns up heat to lead Evian Masters

Published on Thursday 24 July 2008 23:16

IT'S almost a month since Lorena Ochoa teed it up in a tournament, but the world No 1 showed little sign of rustiness with an outstanding opening round of seven-under-par 65 that secured a one-shot lead in the Evian Masters at Evian-les-Bains in France yesterday.

On a day of searing heat, the two Scots in the field failed to dent par.

Mhairi McKay had a fairly solid 72 – one birdie, one bogey – while Catriona Matthew could only manage a 75. England's Trish Johnson was the best of the British players on two-under-par 70, one ahead of the two-time winner, Laura Davies.

Ochoa has already won six times this season, and she made a great start for a first Evian victory with a flawless seven-birdie round, six of them crammed into a back nine of 30. "I had lots of birdie chances on the front nine, but couldn't hole a putt," said the Mexican. "Then I made one on the 10th and another at the 11th and I got my confidence."

Annika Sorenstam, the champion in 2000 and 2002, has been Ochoa's closest rival this season, but she had to settle for a 71, and she admitted: "I wish I'd scored a little better. But there are still lots of holes to go."

McKay, who only got into the tournament as the first reserve, dropped a shot at the 14th and then gained it back at the 16th, while Matthew's lone birdie was at the long seventh.