Mexico's Gaby Lopez wins LPGA season-opening tournament

Gaby Lopez of Mexico wins the LPGA Tournament of Champions at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando in Florida, U.S., January 20, 2020. /AP Photo

Mexican golfer Gaby Lopez drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the seventh hole of a sudden death playoff to win the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour's season-opening Tournament of Champions on Monday.

The 26-year-old from Mexico City clinched the second win of her career after draining the putt on the par-three 18th hole at the Four Seasons Orlando in Florida.

Fourteen months ago, Lopez became the second player from Mexico to win on tour, joining World Golf Hall of Fame member Lorena Ochoa.

"I was mentally prepared for the last 24 hours," Lopez said after her win. "Coming down the stretch yesterday, I knew I had to birdie the hole to have a chance.

"I was very lucky to have a good look at it above the hole today and I made it. I know I don't need to fear anyone else apart from myself, and I proved to myself I can win in any situation.

"I put all those moments together and recall them when I'm walking down the fairway, just staying in the moment."

Gaby Lopez of Mexico looks happy after a putt during the LPGA Tournament of Champions at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando in Florida, U.S., January 19, 2020.

LPGA's fourth-longest playoff

The playoff between the 26-year-old Mexican and Japan's 21-year-old Nasa Hataoka was the LPGA's fourth-longest duel.

The longest was 10 holes at the 1972 Corpus Christi Civitan Open, where American Jo Ann Prentice beat Hall of Famers Sandra Palmer and Kathy Whitworth, both of the U.S.

The Lopez-and-Hataoka playoff had been halted on Sunday evening due to darkness as they were unable to break the deadlock after replaying the 18th hole five times.

When play resumed just after 8 a.m. local time on Monday, it looked as if another protracted battle was in store.

Both players secured pars on the sixth playoff hole, sending it back to the tee.

Nasa Hataoka (R) of Japan and her caddie look over a putt during the LPGA Tournament of Champions at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando in Florida, U.S., January 19, 2020.

Lopez's tee-shot on the seventh playoff hole easily found the green and rolled around to leave her a long birdie chance.

However, the Japanese golfer's tee-shot was even better, arcing around the back of the green and rolling down a slight slope to settle around 12 feet from the pin.

Lopez judged her birdie putt perfectly, finding an ideal line and length to roll her ball gently to the edge of the cup and in.

That left Hataoka with a pressure-laden putt to save par and a chance for her fourth LPGA Tour event.

But her putt drifted well wide to leave Lopez the victor.

(With input from AFP and AP)