Clearly, Lorena Ochoa is destined for greatness. Having just turned 25 this week, she had a magnificent 2006 season, earning the most money and victories (6) on the LPGA Tour. She was also its most consistent performer; notching twelve other top 5’s and she did it in only 25 events. From her record-setting college career until now, Ochoa has been on an inexorable march to the top of the women’s game.
But for all her consistency and sparkling play, there is one more mountain to climb: a Major victory. The only possible flaw in her make-up is a tendency to occasionally go for the difficult shot when a prudent shot would serve as well. (Case in point - her tee shot on the par 3 17th at the ADT.) While Ochoa is known as the biggest birdie-maker on Tour, par tends to be a little more valuable in Majors than in regular tour events. These are lessons that Phil Mickelson has learned later in his career and Greg Norman never quite figured out.
Most evidence suggests Ochoa will get that maiden Major victory sooner rather than later. And once she does, it could be Katie-bar-the-door. I, for one, hope so. The LPGA would be hard pressed to find a better ambassador than she.
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Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
Katharine Dyson:
Kiel Christianson:
is first leading Annika by 0.58 in overall scoring average. Lorena is
also first among LPGA players in scoring average over 16 round of Majors--by 0.31 over Annika. She hasn't won a Major yet, but she seems
to play as well in Majors as anything else.
O.S. - Tom Watson was probably the best golfer to carry the choker label early in his career. He also got past it quite well.
Don't forget about Payne Stewart, he went from serious choker to clutch. Kite is the worse choker I've ever seen, the only reason he won the U.S. Open was because he had no idea he was in contention.