CATRIONA MATTHEW'S FOUR-SHOT WIN IN MEXICO EARNS $200,000

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Catriona Matthew bogeyed the 12th, 15th and 17th in her final round but still scored her first win on the LPGA Tour this season in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club, Mexico today.
The 42-year-old North Berwick player had rounds of 69, 68, 68 and 71 for a 12-under-par total of 276, to finish four shots ahead of joint runners-up Anna Nordqvist (71-65-73-71) and defending champion I K Kim (South Korea) (72-67-70-71).
Matthew, the leader by three shots with one round to go, virtually clinched her fourth victory on the LPGA Tour by burning up the outward half with birdies at the first, second, short sixth and long ninth to be out in four-under-32.
That improved her position to 15-under-par overeall and put her five shots clear of the field - but that was as good as it got for Catriona.
She bogeyed the 12th, 15th and 17th, allowing Nordqvist to get within three shots in the closing stages until a bogey by the Swede at the 17th took the pressure off.
Matthew had bogeyed only one hole in the tournament - the 17th in the third round - but then she bogeyed three in the space of six holes in the closing stages.
The first prize of $200,000 is Catriona's biggest of the season and boosts her earnings for 2011 to $682,217, which makes this her best year financially since 2005 when she won $776,000.
Since she joined the LPGA Tour in 1995, the Scot has now won close on $7million - $6,922,961 to be precise, which does not include the prizemoney she has won in Europe and elsewhere over the years.
Matthew's last LPGA Tour victory actually happened in Britain - the 2009 Women's British Open, which appears on the LPGA Tour Schedule. Her last victory, not on the LPGA Tour, was the Ladies European Tour's Ladies Scottish Open in August.
``I'm absolutely delighted,'' said Catriona. ``I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. I got off to a good start and hung in there. I'm so exhausted at the moment, but I'm sure I will pick up after a margarita.'
``This is where all the best players in the world play and to win in such a limited field with all the top players playing, it's such a boost of confidence,'' Matthew said. ``And even though it's tough being out here now, I have two children at home, so I feel like I've got to be playing well to justify myself being out here and not being at home with them more, so it's a bonus Christmas present now.
Anna Nordqvist and 2010 winner I K Kim tied for second. They each shot 71.
``She played awesome, you know,'' Kim said about playing partner Matthew. ``We didn't really get any closer to her, so I don't think she got much you know, any bit nervous or pressure. I think she had her own kind of momentum going, so I'm very happy for her. It was nice for her. ... What can I say? I was in contention and I got to watch Catriona play, and I've learned a lot today.''
Nordqvist had her best finish of the season.
``I'm happy. I had a great week,'' the Swede said. ``Things are starting to fall into place.''Matthew began the round with a three-stroke lead.
``I think in a way it's just that much more difficult when you've got such a big lead,'' Matthew said. ``I didn't know whether to keep trying to go for birdies or just play for pars and see if they (her nearest rivals) make birdies, and in the end I kind of did neither and just kind of messed up a couple of holes there, but luckily I had a big lead.
``In a way it's more difficult when you've got a big lead because you know it heats up at the turn and if you lose that, it's not very good, so it's more pressure.''
Tournament host Ochoa is expecting her first child next month. The 27-time LPGA Tour winner retired last year.
``Lorena is doing such good work with her foundation,'' Matthew said. ``You come and you think I'm not doing enough when you see all the things she does, so to have won her tournament is a special moment for me.''
Hall of Famer Juli Inkster had a 72 to tie for fourth with Ai Miyazato (71) and Hee Kyung Seo (69) at 5 under. Michelle Wie, the 2009 winner, tied for ninth at 2 under after a 71.
Top-ranked Yani Tseng, winner of 11 tournaments worldwide this year, was never in contention in this one. She shot a 72 to tie for 19th at 3 over.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
276 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) 69 68 68 71 ($200,000).
280 Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) 71 65 73 71, I K Kim (South Korea) 72 67 70 71 ($89,247 each).
283 Hee Kyung Seo (South Korea) 74 69 71 69, Ai Miyazato (Japan) 72 71 69 71, Juli Inkster (US) 67 69 75 72 ($47,670) each).
284 Suzann Pettersen (Norway) 67 70 71 76 ($32,00).
285 Maria Hjorth (Sweden) 70 72 71 72 ($28,036).
SELECTED TOTAL
287 Karen Stupples (England) 75 69 74 69 (12th) ($19,823).

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZE MONEY ALLOCATION

CLICK HERE