October 4, 2009

PING pro Lorena Ochoa’s successful defense of her Navistar LPGA Classic title was the 27th win of her career and her first since switching to the new i15 Driver three weeks ago. Just as importantly, it ended a five-month span without a victory for the No. 1 player in the world.

“It feels good,” said Ochoa. “I have a lot of emotions because it hasn't been easy.”

Her four-shot victory at the RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Alabama came on rounds of 66-68-66-70. She was 18-under-par for the week and collected $195,000 for her third win of the year.

Ochoa’s improved play in the last month indicated it was only a matter of time until her return to the winners’ circle. Her fourth place finish three weeks ago at the Samsung World Championship and a runner-up finish last week was proof her play was returning to the form that’s earned her three consecutive Rolex Player of the Year honors. At the Navistar, she entered the final round with a three-shot cushion. For the week she made 24 birdies and was bogey free in her first and third rounds of 66.

Her switch to the new PING i15 driver at the Samsung event saw improvements in both distance and accuracy. In Alabama, she averaged 270 yards off the tee. She also played a combination of PING S57 (6-9, PW) and S58 (4-5) irons, a G10 3-wood, a Rapture V2 20-degree hybrid, three Tour-W wedges and a Redwood Piper S putter.