Golf-Granada wins 1 million dollar at Tour Championship

MIAMI, Nov 19 (Reuters) Paraguayan rookie Julieta Granada won the biggest prize in LPGA history with a two-shot victory at the season-ending Tour Championship in West Palm Beach today.

The 20-year-old from Asuncion held her nerve over the difficult closing stretch at Trump International before claiming her maiden title and the 1 million dollar winner's cheque with a four-under-par 68 in the final-round shootout.

''Those last three holes, there's so much water all around the greens,'' a tearful Granada told reporters. ''I'm just so happy to get this done and get a big win.

''It was so stressful out there. I felt like I needed an oxygen mask. But I made a good putt for par on 11 and that calmed me, kept me going.'' Mexican Lorena Ochoa, who birdied 15 and 16 to close to within a stroke of the lead, bogeyed the par-three 17th on her way to a 70 and second place.

Australian Karrie Webb, who also dropped a shot after finding water on 17, finished third after carding a 71.

MONEY TITLE Ochoa, who clinched Player of the Year honours by winning her sixth title of the season at last week's Tournament of Champions, had the consolation of claiming the Tour's money title.

Granada, who turned professional in June last year, picked up her fourth shot of the day at the par-four 16th before holding off Ochoa's late challenge by parring the last two holes.

The Paraguayan, wearing an all-red outfit for the final round, then had to wait for the players behind her to finish before her breakthrough victory was assured.

Ochoa, playing in the final pairing with Webb, rolled in a curling 15-footer on 16 to get to three under and keep her title bid alive.

However, the Mexican pushed her tee shot on 17 well right into an unplayable lie before running up a bogey-four.

Needing an eagle-two at the last to join Granada at four under, she had to settle for a regulation two-putt par.

Only eight players qualified for the final round at Trump International, the initial 32-strong field having been trimmed to 16 after Friday's halfway cut.

REUTERS DKS PM0116