Ochoa shrugs off slow start with fast finish at Interlachen

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Lorena Ochoa was delighted to finish with a flourish after making an untidy start to the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday.

The Mexican world number one birdied three of the last five holes in ideal scoring conditions to card a level-par 73 in the opening round at Interlachen Country Club.

Although frustrated by a return of three bogeys over the first 13 holes, Ochoa was satisfied to end the opening day six strokes off the pace.

"I'm really happy with my even par," the 26-year-old Guadalajara native told reporters. "I think that we all know that anything around par for the U.S. Open is always good.

"I'm a little bit disappointed I didn't take advantage of the great conditions but, at the same time, I feel that with three birdies I'm still in it and that's what's important.

"It was playing fairly easy in the morning and for sure I could have finished two, three under par and been in a better position. But the U.S. Open is always tough and I'm okay where I am, I guess."

Ochoa, who won this year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, by five shots, could not recall when she had last played 13 holes without registering a single birdie.

BEAUTIFUL CONDITIONS  Continued...