Ochoa in command in Phoenix

Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, the number one player on the LPGA Tour last year, took a firm grip on the Safeway International with a third-round 69 in Phoenix.

On 14 under par the 25-year-old led by four shots from South Korean Jeong Jang (68) and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen (69), who won the 2001 French Open as a rookie on the Ladies’ European Tour but is still seeking a first LPGA title.

Britain’s Catriona Matthew, in second place at halfway, was the leading British player but slipped back into a tie for fifth place on six under par after an up and down 74 which included a three-putt bogey at the last.

On her first outing since giving birth to daughter Katie in December, the 37-year-old Scot made an early move with a birdie at the second, but then her form turned patchy.

She had three more birdies but also had four bogeys and ran up a six after bunker trouble at the par-four sixth.

After two days plagued by stormy weather, Ochoa returned from an overnight suspension to complete four holes of a second round 64 and reached halfway three shots ahead of Matthew.

She could not quite hit the same form with the putter in the afternoon, but did make birdies at the first, fourth and 18th in another flawless round.

“It’s been a long day but a really good one,” said Ochoa after making a two-putt birdie at the long 18th. “I set up a lot of chances this afternoon but couldn’t make many putts. Hopefully, they will all fall tomorrow.”

Laura Davies, with a 70, was just outside the top 20 on two under, while Janice Moodie had a 71 for one over and Johanna Head, the fourth British player to make the cut, posted a 75 for two over.

World number one Annika Sorenstam birdied the final two holes for a 69 and was alongside Matthew on six under.