Ochoa wasn't disappointed with U.S. Women's Open finish - especially after close call lightning strike

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Someone in the radar department may have dropped the ball at Pine Needles Saturday - and No. 1 in the World Lorena Ochoa was almost cooked by lightning.

Play was expected to be delayed most of the day Saturday due to thunderstorms. To everyone’s surprise, there wasn’t one interruption.

But just as dusk set in on Southern Pines, a storm snuck in with it. It caught everyone off-guard - and there was a mad scramble to get everyone off the course and inside.

Cristie Kerr was in the outdoor interview area just beyond the 18th green when one lightning strike was too close.

“Okay that’s it, two more questions and I’m outta here,” she said.

Ochoa was being shuttled back to the clubhouse in a golf cart from the 12th hole, when she says there was a booming lightning strike too close for comfort.

“I don’t really know how close. It was loud. It was scary,” she said. “I want to say maybe a hundred yards.”

Is that acceptable for the USGA to cut safety that close with not just the No. 1, but anyone in the field or in attendance?

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Ochoa isn’t disappointed with her runner-up finish. She said she is happy to put herself in contention. Also, she made several clutch par putts down the stretch. She didn’t choke, just couldn’t make birdies.

The Old Course at St. Andrews likes long bombers (John Daly, anyone?). Ochoa - like Tiger Woods is one of the biggest hitters on tour. Look for her to contend there in the upcoming British.