Lorena Ochoa

Lorena Ochoa
Lorena Ochoa Mobile Ala.jpg
Personal Information
Birth November 15, 1981 (1981-11-15) (age 27) Guadalajara, Mexico
Height 5 ft 6.1 in (1.69 m)
Nationality Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
Residence Guadalajara, Jalisco
College University of Arizona
(two years)
Career
Turned Pro 2002
Current tour LPGA Tour (joined 2003)
Past tour Futures Tour (2002)
Professional wins 27 (LPGA Tour: 24, Futures Tour: 3)
Major Championships Top Finishes
Wins: 2
Kraft Nabisco Won 2008
LPGA Championship T3: 2008
U.S. Women's Open T2: 2007
Women's British Open Won 2007
Awards listed here

Lorena Ochoa (born in Guadalajara, Jalisco on November 15, 1981) is a Mexican golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and is currently the number one ranked female golfer in the world. As the first Mexican golfer of either gender to be ranked number one in the world, she is considered the best Mexican golfer of all time.[1]

Contents

Childhood and amateur career

Ochoa took up golf at the age of five. She won her first state event at the age of six and her first national event at seven.

An 11-year-old Ochoa approached Rafael Alarcon as he worked on his game at Guadalajara Country Club, where her family lived near the 10th tee[2]. She asked him if he would help her with her game. Alarcon asked her what her goal was, "She said she wanted to be the best player in the world."

As a junior, she captured 22 state events in Guadalajara and 44 national events in Mexico. She won five consecutive titles at the Junior World Golf Championships[3][4][5][6][7] and in 2000 she enrolled at the University of Arizona in the United States on a golf scholarship. While a student, with regular tutoring she greatly improved her English by watching movies and reading magazines between practice and tournaments[8].

She was very successful in women's collegiate golf in the next two years, winning the NCAA Player of the Year Awards for 2001 and 2002, finishing runner-up at both the 2001 and 2002 NCAA National Championship[9] and being named to the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) 2001 All-America First team.[10] She won the 2001 Pac-10 Women's Golf Championships,[11] was named PAC-10 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year 2001 and was All Pac-10 First team in 2001 and 2002.[12]

In her sophomore year she had eight tournament wins in ten events she entered[1] and set an NCAA record with seven consecutive victories in her first seven events.[2] She won the Golfstat Cup in both 2001 and 2002. The Cup is given to the player who has the best scoring average versus par with at least 20 full rounds played during a season.[13] setting the single-season NCAA scoring average record as a freshman at 71.33 and beating her own record the next year by just over a stroke per round with a 70.13 average.[9]

In November 2001, Ochoa was presented with Mexico's National Sports Award by Mexican President Vicente Fox. She was the youngest person and first golfer to receive Mexico's highest sporting accolade.[2] In 2006 she was named NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Most Outstanding Student Athlete, an award which was bestowed as part of the 25th Anniversary of Women’s Championships celebration, taking into account outstanding performances over the past 25 years.[9] She was the recipient of the 2003 Nancy Lopez Award which is presented annually to the world's most outstanding female amateur golfer.[14]

Nancy Lopez describes Ochoa off the golf course as:

"When you meet her for the second time and she remembers not only your name but also the slightest detail from the last time you spoke."[15]

Professional career

Lorena Ochoa on the practice range at the 2006 Women's British Open

Ochoa left university after her sophomore year to turn professional. She won three of ten events played on the 2002 Futures Tour, and topped the money list to earn membership on the LPGA Tour for the 2003 season.[16] She was also Duramed FUTURES Tour Player of the Year.[17]

In her rookie season on the LPGA Tour she gained eight top-10 finishes including runner-up finishes at the Wegmans Rochester and Michelob Light Open at Kingsmill ending the season as the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year[18] and ninth on the LPGA official money list. In 2004 she won her first two LPGA Tour titles: the Franklin American Mortgage Championship (where she became the first Mexican born player to win on the LPGA Tour) and the Wachovia LPGA Classic.[14] That same year she placed in the top ten in three of the four major championships.

In 2005, she won the Wegman's Rochester LPGA. In 2006, her first round score of 62 in the Kraft Nabisco Championship tied the record for lowest score ever by a golfer, male or female, in any major tournament. Her playoff loss to Karrie Webb marked her best finish until 2007 in an LPGA major. By the end of the year she won six tournaments, topped the money list and claimed her first LPGA Tour Player of the Year award which goes to the player who gains the most number of points throughout the season based on a formula in which points are awarded for top-10 finishes and are doubled at the LPGA's four major championships and at the season-ending ADT Championship.[19] She also won the LPGA Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour.[20]

Her achievements were recognized outside the sport of golf when Ochoa won the 2006 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award and received the National Sports Prize for the second time.[21]

In April 2007, Ochoa overtook Annika Sörenstam to become the world number one ranked golfer.[22]

In August 2007, Ochoa won her first major championship at the historic home of golf, the Old Course at St. Andrews, with a wire-to-wire win by four shots at the Women's British Open.[23] She won the next two LPGA events, the CN Canadian Women's Open and the Safeway Classic, the first to win three consecutive events since Annika Sörenstam in 2005.[24]

Also in 2007, Ochoa became the first woman ever to earn more than $4,000,000 in a single season, surpassing Annika Sörenstam's previous record of $2,863,904.

In April 2008, Ochoa won her second major championship, this time at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, becoming the first golfer to win consecutive LPGA majors since Sörenstam in 2005. She celebrated this victory in the traditional fashion for the Kraft Nabisco by jumping into the pond on the 18th green.[25] The following week, she won the Corona Championship in her home country by 11 strokes. This gave her the final tournament win she needed to qualify for the World Golf Hall of Fame, although she cannot be inducted until 2012, after she completes ten seasons on the LPGA Tour.[26]

Ochoa is coached by Rafael Alarcon, a Mexican professional. Alarcon finished second in the 1976 Canadian Amateur Championship, won that title in 1979, then turned professional. [27]

Tournament host

In November 2008, she became the host of a new annual LPGA event, the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, held at her original home course, Guadalajara Country Club.[28] Proceeds from the tournament help support the Lorena Ochoa Foundation.

Outside the LPGA

Lorena Ochoa's successes fuels the family business, the Ochoa Group in Guadalajara, managed by her brother Alejandro Ochoa.

Lorena Ochoa is represented by the Ochoa Sports Management, along with Alarcon and Sophia Sheridan, a Mexican golfer who plays on the LPGA's developmental tour. The Ochoas are confident the list will expand as they attempt to grow the game in Mexico through Ochoa Golf Academies, created by Lorena, Alejandro and Alarcon.

Ochoa Sports Management also operates the LPGA Corona Championship, an annual tour stop in Morelia, Mexico; and the Ochoa Invitational.

The Lorena Ochoa Foundation operates La Barranca, a primary school in Guadalajara with 250 underprivileged students and an innovative curriculum. In 2008, the foundation opened a high school with 21 freshmen students. The plan, according to foundation director Carmen Bolio, is to add a new class each year and then construct a high school building that's separate from the primary school.[29]

Professional wins (27)

Futures Tour (3)

LPGA Tour (24)

LPGA Majors are shown in bold.

Results in LPGA majors

Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Kraft Nabisco Championship DNP T21 8 3 T8 T35 2 T10 1
LPGA Championship DNP DNP DNP T20 T8 T5 T9 T6 T3
U.S. Women's Open CUT DNP WD T13 T44 T6 T20 T2 T31
Women's British Open DNP DNP DNP T24 4 CUT T4 1 T7

DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied
Green background for a win. Yellow background for a top-10 finish.

LPGA Tour career summary

Year Number of
events		 Cuts
made		 Wins 2nd 3rd Top
10s		 Earnings ($) Rank Scoring average
2003 24 23 0 2 3 8 823,740 9 70.97
2004 27 27 2 1 5 18 1,450,824 3 70.02
2005 23 20 1 4 0 10 1,201,786 4 71.39
2006 25 25 6 6 2 20 2,592,872 1 69.24
2007 25 25 8 5 2 21 4,364,994 1 69.68
2008* 20 20 7 0 2 17 2,738,888 1 69.51

*Official as of October 20, 2008.

Honors and awards

2001

  • Mexico National Sports Award (a)

2002

  • Futures Tour Rookie of the Year
  • Futures Tour Player of the Year

2003

2006

2007

  • LPGA Rolex Player of the Year (2)
  • LPGA Tour Money Winner (2)
  • LPGA Vare Trophy (2)
  • Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year
  • Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year
  • Mexico National Sports Award (3)
  • Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year (2)
  • AP Female Athlete of the Year (2)
  • EFE Sportswoman of the Year
  • Heather Farr Player Award‎

2008

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Leonard Shapiro (2007-04-27). "Say Hello to the Ochoa Era". Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Michael Arkush (2003). "The Pride of Mexico". Golf for Women magazine. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  3. ↑ "Junior World Golf Championships 1990 Champions". Junior World Golf Championships. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  4. ↑ "Junior World Golf Championships 1991 Champions". Junior World Golf Championships. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  5. ↑ "Junior World Golf Championships 1992 Champions". Junior World Golf Championships. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  6. ↑ "Junior World Golf Championships 1993 Champions". Junior World Golf Championships. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  7. ↑ "Junior World Golf Championships 1994 Champions". Junior World Golf Championships. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  8. ↑ How I Learned English: 55 Accomplished Latinos Recall Lessons in Language and Life, ed. Tom Miller, (National Geographic Books). pg. 154.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "NCAA Names Lorena Ochoa Division 1 Women’s Golf Most Outstanding Student Athlete". NCAA (2006-05-05). Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  10. ↑ "Marta Prieto Earns All-America Honors". Atlantic Coast Conference (2001-05-29). Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  11. ↑ "2001 Pac-10 Women's Golf Championships". PAC-10. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  12. ↑ "PAC-10 Women's Golf". PAC-10. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  13. ↑ "Golfstat Cup Award". National Golf Coaches Association. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Lorena Ochoa Career Biography". LPGA Tour. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  15. ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/hispanicheritage2008/news/story?id=3640167
  16. ↑ Lisa D. Mickey. "Silver Anniversary Salute: FUTURES Tour Prepares For Next 25 Years". Duramed Futures Tour. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  17. ↑ "Duramed FUTURES Tour Awards". Futures Tour. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
  18. ↑ "Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Winners". LPGA Tour. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  19. ↑ "Rolex Player of the Year Winners". LPGA Tour. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  20. ↑ "Vare Trophy Winners". LPGA Tour. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  21. ↑ "No-one Has the Right to Think or Decide for the People: President Vicente Fox". Presidency of the Republic (2006-11-21). Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  22. ↑ Geoff Grammer (2007-04-24). "Ex-Wildcat shuffle: Ochoa passes Sörenstam as No. 1". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  23. ↑ Bethan Cutler (2007-08-05). "Ochoa crowned Ricoh Women’s British Open Champion at St Andrews". Ladies European Tour. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
  24. ↑ Associated Press. "Safeway Classic win gives Ochoa third straight LPGA title". ESPN. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
  25. ↑ Daylife (2008-04-06). "Speak softly, carry big stick, jump in lake…". Retrieved on 2008-04-06. 
  26. ↑ Associated Press (2008-04-13). "Ochoa gains eligibility to Hall of Fame with rousing triumph", ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  27. ↑ Lorne Rubenstein (2008-05-03). "Ruling the fairways", The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on 2008-05-20. 
  28. ↑ Associated Press (2008-04-09). "No. 1 Ochoa returns to Mexico confident she can start winning at home", ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-10. 
  29. ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/hispanicheritage2008/news/story?id=3640167

External links

Women's World Golf Rankings | Top ten female golfers as of November 24, 2008
1. ▬ Flag of Mexico Lorena Ochoa 2. ▲ Flag of the Republic of China Yani Tseng 3. ▼ Flag of Sweden Annika Sörenstam 4. ▬ Flag of the United States Paula Creamer 5. ▬ Flag of Norway Suzann Pettersen
6. ▬ Flag of South Korea Ji-Yai Shin 7. ▬ Flag of the United States Cristie Kerr 8. ▬ Flag of Sweden Helen Alfredsson 9. ▬ Flag of the United States Angela Stanford 10. ▬ Flag of Australia Karrie Webb
Awards
Preceded by
Annika Sörenstam		 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year
2006, 2007		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Annika Sörenstam		 World No. 1 Ranked Golfer
April 23, 2007 - present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Dinah Shore/Kraft Nabisco Champions

Non-Major Championship
1972 Jane Blalock · 1973 Mickey Wright · 1974 Jo Ann Prentice · 1975 Sandra Palmer · 1976 Judy Rankin · 1977 Kathy Whitworth · 1978 Sandra Post · 1979 Sandra Post · 1980 Donna Caponi · 1981 Nancy Lopez · 1982 Sally Little

Major Championship
1983 Amy Alcott · 1984 Juli Inkster · 1985 Alice Miller · 1986 Pat Bradley · 1987 Betsy King · 1988 Amy Alcott · 1989 Juli Inkster · 1990 Betsy King · 1991 Amy Alcott · 1992 Dottie Mochrie · 1993 Helen Alfredsson · 1994 Donna Andrews · 1995 Nanci Bowen · 1996 Patty Sheehan · 1997 Betsy King · 1998 Pat Hurst · 1999 Dottie Pepper · 2000 Karrie Webb · 2001 Annika Sörenstam · 2002 Annika Sörenstam · 2003 Patricia Meunier-Lebouc · 2004 Grace Park · 2005 Annika Sörenstam · 2006 Karrie Webb · 2007 Morgan Pressel · 2008 Lorena Ochoa
Women's British Open Champions

Non-Major Championship
1976 Jenny Lee Smith · 1977 Vivien Saunders · 1978 Janey Melville · 1979 Alison Sheard · 1980 Debbie Massey · 1981 Debbie Massey · 1982 Marta Figueras-Doti · 1983 No event · 1984 Ayako Okamoto · 1985 Betsy King · 1986 Laura Davies · 1987 Alison Nicholas · 1988 Corinne Dibnah · 1989 Jane Geddes · 1990 Helen Alfredsson · 1991 Penny Grice-Whittker · 1992 Patty Sheehan · 1993 Karen Lunn · 1994 Liselotte Neumann · 1995 Karrie Webb · 1996 Emilee Klein · 1997 Karrie Webb · 1998 Sherri Steinhauer · 1999 Sherri Steinhauer · 2000 Sophie Gustafson ·

Major Championship
2001 Se Ri Pak · 2002 Karrie Webb · 2003 Annika Sörenstam · 2004 Karen Stupples · 2005 Jeong Jang · 2006 Sherri Steinhauer · 2007 Lorena Ochoa · 2008 Ji-Yai Shin
Persondata
NAME Ochoa, Lorena
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Professional Golfer
DATE OF BIRTH November 15, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH Guadalajara, Mexico
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH