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Sorenstam edges Ochoa in Acapulco skins match

Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, left, and Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam prepare to putt on the green of the ninth hole during the Acapulco Skins tournament at Tres Vidas golf course in Acapulco, Mexico, on Saturday. Sorenstam won the tourney. PHOTO: AP

Annika Sorenstam edged top-ranked Lorena Ochoa on Saturday in a US$15,000-per-hole skins competition at Mexico's oceanside Tres Vidas course to take home US$165,000.

It was the second time in less than a year that Sorenstam has defeated the Mexican, who left with US$105,000, on her home turf. In September, the Swede took the first US$270,000 skins event between the two at the same windswept course.

Ochoa, who overtook Sorenstam as the world's top female golfer in April, did well on the fairways, but struggled on the greens, losing to Sorenstam on the fourth extra hole with the final US$45,000 at stake.

Pressure mounted from the start, with the players halving the first five holes with pars.

Sorenstam, who returned to competition three weeks ago after neck and back injuries, was steady and confident, pulling ahead on the sixth hole with a par for US$90,000.

Ochoa fell apart on the windswept green, overshooting a long putt and narrowly missing a drop onto the beach below. She missed a second, shorter putt and settled for a bogey.

Sorenstam took the next hole, a par 4, with a birdie. Then Ochoa came back with a birdie on the par-4 ninth to take US$30,000.

Yet Sorenstam seemed destined for victory at the start of the back nine, winning a total of US$120,000 by the 10th hole on a birdie.

But Ochoa rallied after that, winning with birdies on the 13th and 15th holes to earn a total of US$105,000.

Sorenstam struggled, landing on the beach just short of the waves on the 12th hole and putting her ball into the water on the next.

The event came down to the 18th hole, a par 4 pocked with bunkers. The two were forced to replay the hole four times, each making par. The fifth time seemed to be headed for another tie, but Ochoa missed a short putt, her ball circling the hole before popping out for a bogey.

Despite the intense competition, the two former University of Arizona players acted like old friends, sometimes chatting as they walked the fairway and complimenting each other's play at the end of the game.

Sorenstam played down her win, saying "anything can happen" in skins.

"It was very, very close," she said, adding that it was "tough to keep up with Lorena."

Ochoa was gracious, inviting Sorenstam to return to Acapulco for a rematch.

"Hopefully, we can do it again next year," she said.

Sorenstam accepted her offer.

Despite her loss, Ochoa said she was happy with her game and hoped to soon bag her first major tournament.

"I hope this year is the year of the majors," she said.
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