Ochoa wins Open by four shots

World number one Lorena Ochoa claimed her first major title with a closing round of 74 in the Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews.

In the first women's professional event to be held over the Old Course, the 25-year-old from Guadalajara finished on five under par and won by four shots from Sweden's Maria Hjorth and South Korean Jee-Young Lee.

Six ahead at the start of the final round, Ochoa made three birdies in first nine holes was never threatened.

Her only minor scare was at the par-five 17th where she hit her second into an almost unplayable lie in a bunker and had to play out sideways, but she eventually rescued a bogey six.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew, level par for the day, was the best of the British players in a tie for seventh on two over par.

Another Scot, Mhairi McKay, had a day to remember. She had eight birdies in a six under par 67 - equalling the professional course record set by Ochoa in round one - and bolted up the leaderboard into joint 11th place on three over.

The 32-year-old said: "I'm really proud of the way I played today.  It's been terrific to have the British Open at St Andrews for a first time and today should take me a long way to retaining my full card on next year's LPGA Tour."

Melissa Reid, the gifted teenager from England, shot a final-round 72 and won the Smyth Salver for the leading amateur on four over par.