You'd never bump into Tiger in a place like this...
Strolling through Palm Spring airport this morning at 6:20, I happened upon a cute brunette in tight jeans and a gray Izod sweater, sans makeup with her hair in a ponytail. She was nursing a warm beverage and flipping through Time Magazine. Lorena Ochoa can blend into the crowd anywhere but on a golf course.
Noting her bloodshot eyes, I asked how late the party had raged. "Until about three hours ago," she said with a laugh. "We had almost 100 Mexicans at the [rented] house. Of course we all wound up in the pool."
No rest for the weary: Ochoa was bound for this week's LPGA event in Mexico. With 11 victories in the past 13 months, she is golf's most prolific winner, but Ochoa has often struggled on her home soil, where the distractions are legion. I have a feeling this is the week will be different.
This morning Ochoa couldn't have been more relaxed or chipper. A few more hours of sleep and she'll be ready to take on the world, again.
(Photo: Robert Beck/SI)
Posted by: Jason Alexander | Apr 10, 2008 3:05:36 AM
Ron Snyder - I fail to see how you got "illegal" from Pete's comment unless you associate "Mexican" with "illegal"
You may be an intelligent person, but as it stands without qualification, your comment was idiotic.
Posted by: Jay | Apr 7, 2008 9:07:42 PM
Between Lorena, Natalie, Paula and several others I've become a LPGA fan except when Tiger is playing.
It's a lot more fun to watch the young ladies than the men.
And Lorena seems to be the perfect face for the new LPGA.
Posted by: Ron Snyder | Apr 7, 2008 7:57:28 PM
Pete, put "illegal" in front of immigrants and quit trying to be so PC.
Posted by: Alfredo Chavez | Apr 7, 2008 7:07:12 PM
"but Ochoa has never prevailed on her home soil".
Oh really?
She hasn't done that great in tournamets held in Mexico, but she did win the 2006 Corona Morelia Championship, and I can tell that with confidence because I was there that week.
Cheers.
PS. Love your "Hot and not" column.
Posted by: Pete | Apr 7, 2008 3:56:44 PM
Funny how accepting we are of Mexican immigrants when they can play golf. I have known and lived with and been friends with Mexican people from all economic levels my entire life and I can tell you that Lorena Ochoa is the norm for these people from Mexico not the exception. Most are thoughtful, caring, hard working, moral, ethical and honest people. Exactly what this country needs more of, in my opinion, not less.
Posted by: Viraj Dixit | Apr 7, 2008 2:50:35 PM
I used watch only PGA since I am a big fan of Tiger but lately I have started watching the LPGA and I will say I am thoroughly enjoying watching the ladies play and now I am a huge fan of Lorena Ochoa. I met her in Palm Springs and what a personality, no hangps no attitude, just a down to earth wonderful human being. I hope she stays that way forever.
Viraj
Posted by: Fernando | Apr 7, 2008 2:05:50 PM
I am very happy to see a professional
Golfer such as Lorena Ochoa be at the Top of the LPGA and still be so humble and nice that everyone on the LPGA Tour really cares about her! She makes me want to watch the LPGA every week. She is a blessing to GOLF! She will remain NO. 1 for a long time.
Posted by: Henry | Apr 7, 2008 1:30:00 PM
Tom, you are so wrong about Annika being no.1 by the end of the year. Lorena would have to quit playing for the rest of the year for that to happen. This is "Lorena Time" and the LPGA is much better off because of it.
Annika was tremendous because of the publicity she received when she played Colonial, but other than that, she wasn't ever a great ambassador to golf as Lorena has turned out to be.
Posted by: Elena Wilkins | Apr 7, 2008 1:06:01 PM
Lorena is such a great ambassador for women's golf: No attitude, no nonsense, just a nice person playing wonderful golf for the last 2 years. It is great to see people are finally noticing!! All her peers are full of compliments, there is nothing bad they can say about her: She has remain the same in spite of all her success. Viva Lorena!!
Posted by: Tom | Apr 7, 2008 11:53:41 AM
Let's not put Ochoa on a pedestal yet. Annika will come back to be #1 by next year. If Ochoa can prevent that and remain in #1, I will put her on my pedestal along with Tiger.
Posted by: Andrew | Apr 7, 2008 10:49:58 AM
As an ageing golf writer, the last time I became a fan was when Bobby Locke and Sam Snead played a number of exhibition matches in South Africa. Locke and Snead were my heroes for years. I was 10 years old at the time and had the pleasure of playing a round of golf with Locke 40 years later shortly before he died. It is indeed hard to be a fan nowadays when sports is mostly about money. But I have joined the people supporting Lorena Ochoa. She is a people's person with no airs. What a bright light among the mostly boring briefcase brigade on the PGA tours.