Ochoa seeking Major boost

World number one Lorena Ochoa begins her final warm-up for the second major of the women’s season at the Ginn Tribute tomorrow in Charleston, South Carolina.

The 26-year-old Mexican has won six of her nine tournaments in an incredible start to the year, a list that included the first major at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in California in March.

The next major is the McDonald’s LPGA Championship in Maryland next week, but Ochoa said: “I’m not thinking about it yet. I’ve had a wonderful start to the year, and just want to continue the form this week.”

Ochoa came close to victory last year, losing in a play-off to American Nicole Castrale.

“Hopefully I can go one better,” added the player who won her first major at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at St Andrews last August, and has now won 15 LPGA titles in her five-year career.

Annika Sorenstam is the tournament host in Charleston, and will be keen to win her own tournament in her final season before retirement. The Swede already has three wins this year.

Last year, the tournament was overshadowed by a controversial late second-round withdrawal by Michelle Wie. The teenager withdrew when she was well over par with a few holes to play – and Sorenstam later condemned the youngster for snubbing the tournament.

Wie was not invited back this year – she will also be missing from next week’s major – but she is making a surprise appearance in the Ladies’ German Open starting in Munich tomorrow.

England’s Laura Davies, who finished fifth in last week’s Swiss Open, returns from a flying visit to Europe, while Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who showed great form with a tie for second behind Ochoa in the Sybase Classic two weeks ago, returns from a week’s break.