Ochoa's Win A "Changing Of The Guard"?
Hello. Congrats to Lorena Ochoa for winning the Samsung World Championships Sunday over the top 20 lady field. Her 7-under 65 overcame a 3 shot deficit she faced against Annika Sorenstam of all people. How many other LPGA players could've done what Ochoa did? Considering no one really has in the last 5 years, I would say not many. Sorenstam is a member of Bighorn, where the event was played. She was trying to win this tournament for a record 6 times, and was the 2-time defending champion.
What Ochoa did was arguably a major win. She will be getting Annika-like respect from her peers. When you add that to 4 other wins, and 5 seconds in the year, it was definitely a breakout year. Unless Karrie Webb or Sorenstam win the final 2 events of the year, Ochoa will be the leading money winner and Player of the Year. And she's only 24 years old.
But is this a changing of the guard? Is Ochoa the next #1 player? I would right now say only "maybe".
Why maybe when she has been touted by others (including me) as the real thing? Well, there's the fact Ochoa has now only won 8 career LPGA titles, and zero majors. While it is impressive, we have to look no further than David Duval for someone who started their career this way, only to end up as a has-been. Of course, Duval's career is exceptional in its riches-to-rags freefall.
How about another "can't-miss" star named Michelle Wie? Can she already be called a has-been at a just-turned 17 years old? This week she was 17th out of the 20 competitors, one of her worst LPGA results ever. Has the excitement of her debut now been all but completely lost? Will anyone care as much about her in 2007 on either the PGA or LPGA tours? Here's saying she's going to have to get some results by a year from now, or else her sponsors will be looking elsewhere in 2010.
And what of Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Christina Kim and Natalie Gulbis, all winless in 2006 (and for some even longer)? They were probably all deemed "can't miss" by their sponsors, I'm sure.
What if anything separates Ochoa from the ladies mentioned above? When I've seen her interviewed, I've noticed an incredible focus. I think Ochoa will stop at nothing to be #1, something I question from almost all other Tour players when looking up to Tiger and Annika. Ochoa feels she can do it. And I agree with her.
All the best Lorena! And congrats on a nice 2006!
Regards,
Steve
What Ochoa did was arguably a major win. She will be getting Annika-like respect from her peers. When you add that to 4 other wins, and 5 seconds in the year, it was definitely a breakout year. Unless Karrie Webb or Sorenstam win the final 2 events of the year, Ochoa will be the leading money winner and Player of the Year. And she's only 24 years old.
But is this a changing of the guard? Is Ochoa the next #1 player? I would right now say only "maybe".
Why maybe when she has been touted by others (including me) as the real thing? Well, there's the fact Ochoa has now only won 8 career LPGA titles, and zero majors. While it is impressive, we have to look no further than David Duval for someone who started their career this way, only to end up as a has-been. Of course, Duval's career is exceptional in its riches-to-rags freefall.
How about another "can't-miss" star named Michelle Wie? Can she already be called a has-been at a just-turned 17 years old? This week she was 17th out of the 20 competitors, one of her worst LPGA results ever. Has the excitement of her debut now been all but completely lost? Will anyone care as much about her in 2007 on either the PGA or LPGA tours? Here's saying she's going to have to get some results by a year from now, or else her sponsors will be looking elsewhere in 2010.
And what of Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Christina Kim and Natalie Gulbis, all winless in 2006 (and for some even longer)? They were probably all deemed "can't miss" by their sponsors, I'm sure.
What if anything separates Ochoa from the ladies mentioned above? When I've seen her interviewed, I've noticed an incredible focus. I think Ochoa will stop at nothing to be #1, something I question from almost all other Tour players when looking up to Tiger and Annika. Ochoa feels she can do it. And I agree with her.
All the best Lorena! And congrats on a nice 2006!
Regards,
Steve
posted by Irrelevant at 5:01 PM
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