Safeway International Sunday: Ochoa Wins by 7--Any Questions?

Once again, Lorena Ochoa has shown that when she's on, nobody can keep pace with her. Sure, it can happen for a good many over a 9-hole stretch--few in the field didn't surpass her worst 9 of the Safeway International, a closing 36 from Saturday's round, at some point in the tournament, and even a very few outdid Ochoa's low of 31 from Thursday's front 9. It can happen for a good number over an 18-hole stretch--such as between the 7th hole Saturday to the 6th hole Sunday, when she made 3 birdies and 3 bogeys and it seemed the tournament was in danger of becoming a free-for-all. And for ever-decreasing numbers of players in a given week, it can happen over stretches of 27, 36, 45, and even 54 holes. But over 72 holes? Let's face it: that's a very tall order.

Just ask Angela Stanford. You think it's any coincidence that her 3 worst 9s came on Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon? It's tiring keeping pace with the world #1! That's how you break the course record in the first round but only finish T4 at -13.

Or ask Jee Young Lee. Her 56-hole bogey-free streak ended on the third hole Sunday--at exactly the wrong time, for Lee only ended up making up 3 shots in that 18-hole stretch from Saturday to Sunday when Ochoa seemed human. When Ochoa hit the nitro button over her closing 12 holes, it was Lee's turn to give in to gravity.

It's not even fair, really, to ask Christina Kim (71, -12, T6), Lindsey Wright (73, -11, T9), or Inbee Park (73, -11, T9). They started Sunday too far behind Ochoa to have much of a chance, really, not that they helped their causes in the opening 6 holes, either.

Better to ask Annika Sorenstam (70, -11, T9) how it feels to get dusted by 11 shots, uh, again. Or Suzann Pettersen (73, -7, T22), Cristie Kerr (71, -6, T29), Paula Creamer (72, -3, T46), Mi Hyun Kim (75, E, T60), and Karrie Webb (MC) how it feels to try to chase Ochoa when you can't even get your own game in gear.

As Jee Young Lee put it, "I mean, she's a great player. She never loses her pace, and that's something that I really need to learn from her to keep it steady all the time."

Wow.

[Update 3/31/08: Hound Dog's final-round overview gives the key play-by-play for those who missed it and also shines the spotlight on the rounds of several players I skipped here. I recommend it, not to mention his highlights. Who needs the Golf Channel?]