Mar
03
Lorena Ochoa the next Tiger Woods?
Lorena Ochoa is showing all the signs of grabbing the LPGA by the throat in the same way – well, almost – that Tiger Woods is crushing PGA Tour fields.
Ochoa finished 20-under at the HSBC Women’s Champion’s tournament in Singapore Sunday, beating Annika Sorenstam by a whopping 11 strokes.
“I took my game to a new level, so I’m going to try to keep repeating myself,” she told the press after her season debut.
Sorenstam, a year after battling injuries, has now finished in the top four in every tournament this season, but her steady play may be irrelevant if Ochoa keeps this up.
The LPGA could use a young superstar like Ochoa, if it hopes to overcome the marketing gaffes of the last couple of years by Commissioner Carolyn Bivens.
Of course, it would be better for the LPGA – from a marketing standpoint – if Ochoa was an American, but Mexico is close enough. And it would also be better for Ochoa and Sorenstam to battle it out neck and neck all year long. Two great golfers with personalities to match.
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24 comments
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor] 
Well, if the Democrats have their way, there won't be much difference between the US and Mexico soon anyway.
03/03/08 @ 16:52
It's times like these I'm reminded of one of the great Alex's favorite quotes:
"to liberals EVERYTHING is politics."
--WKW
"to liberals EVERYTHING is politics."
--WKW
03/03/08 @ 21:51
Comment from: Bob [Visitor]
Definitely looks like the LPGA has a chance for the best year "ever" ! - Just do not understand why you do not like the things Commissioner Bivens has done for the LPGA. She has opened many "new and higher payout tournaments" for LPGA ! Just watch the LPGA increase in fan interest and publicity!
03/04/08 @ 08:54
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Tim,
Where have you been? Michelle Wie is the new Tiger Woods!
Where have you been? Michelle Wie is the new Tiger Woods!
03/04/08 @ 21:23
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Joe Cool,
Bubbles may not be the next Tiger, but with her machine she doesn't have to be.
In 2007, Bubbles played in eight women's tournaments, virtually all on exemptions.
She missed three cuts, withdrew twice, and in the events that she did complete, she finished 84th, T69th, and 19th in a twenty player field. She rang up numerous rounds in the 80's and never came close to being competitive.
So far this year, she has played once and finished T73rd and last among those who made the cut.
Her play could hardly have been more uninspired.
So how is she treated as a result of her dismal play? She is given another exemption to the Safeway! And the tournament director is pleased as punch that she accepted the freebie.
Here is another thing that Bubbles can add to her list of "firsts."
When was the last time a golfer ranked 89th was extended a sponsor's exemption?
Alex USMC 1969-73
Bubbles may not be the next Tiger, but with her machine she doesn't have to be.
In 2007, Bubbles played in eight women's tournaments, virtually all on exemptions.
She missed three cuts, withdrew twice, and in the events that she did complete, she finished 84th, T69th, and 19th in a twenty player field. She rang up numerous rounds in the 80's and never came close to being competitive.
So far this year, she has played once and finished T73rd and last among those who made the cut.
Her play could hardly have been more uninspired.
So how is she treated as a result of her dismal play? She is given another exemption to the Safeway! And the tournament director is pleased as punch that she accepted the freebie.
Here is another thing that Bubbles can add to her list of "firsts."
When was the last time a golfer ranked 89th was extended a sponsor's exemption?
Alex USMC 1969-73
03/09/08 @ 19:22
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Wendy,
Check your reading comprehension, dear lady.
The question contained the word "when", not the word "who."
Incidentally, Big John adds alittle panache to an event, and he is a winner of two majors.
Alex USMC 1969-73
Check your reading comprehension, dear lady.
The question contained the word "when", not the word "who."
Incidentally, Big John adds alittle panache to an event, and he is a winner of two majors.
Alex USMC 1969-73
03/11/08 @ 07:03
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Wendy,
Yes, panache. Synonym: reckless, courageous, flamboyant; all qualities not possessed by females.
Just for my own edification, perhaps you, as a female, can explain that peculiar female penchant for never answering question directly. My wife, daughters, and all other females that I know have the same difficulty. For instance, if one were to ask a woman, "how's the weather where you live," the answer might be, "the lawn is coming along nicely", or "I saw the first robin of Spring today."
Incidentally, Bubbles is now ranked 93rd, dropping like a stone.
Alex USMC 1969-73
Yes, panache. Synonym: reckless, courageous, flamboyant; all qualities not possessed by females.
Just for my own edification, perhaps you, as a female, can explain that peculiar female penchant for never answering question directly. My wife, daughters, and all other females that I know have the same difficulty. For instance, if one were to ask a woman, "how's the weather where you live," the answer might be, "the lawn is coming along nicely", or "I saw the first robin of Spring today."
Incidentally, Bubbles is now ranked 93rd, dropping like a stone.
Alex USMC 1969-73
03/11/08 @ 09:22
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Alex,
Panache - sense of style.
I'm reckless and courageous but definitely not flamboyant.
The magnolia is in full bloom and very lovely it looks too.
What is John's ranking again?
Panache - sense of style.
I'm reckless and courageous but definitely not flamboyant.
The magnolia is in full bloom and very lovely it looks too.
What is John's ranking again?
03/11/08 @ 10:14
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Wendy,
Probably well below that of Bubbles.
Of course, he does play on a far better tour than does the earringed one. And he has won two majors and a few other tournaments which suggests he might deserve an occasional exemption.
How many tournaments has Bubbles won again?
Probably well below that of Bubbles.
Of course, he does play on a far better tour than does the earringed one. And he has won two majors and a few other tournaments which suggests he might deserve an occasional exemption.
How many tournaments has Bubbles won again?
03/11/08 @ 11:29
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
MW not my area of expertise, Alex - I leave her statistics to you. However, it seems to me that they are both given exemptions for the same reason.
It appears that never answering a question directly is not purely a female trait after all.
It appears that never answering a question directly is not purely a female trait after all.
03/11/08 @ 12:38
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Tim,
That's quite an original comment.
Some might think it not politically correct.
Wendy,
The only statistic requested was the number of pro wins that Bubbles has racked up. Here's a clue. Zero, nada, none.
It does appear that you are leaning to the defense of Bubbles.
Alex USMC 1969-73
That's quite an original comment.
Some might think it not politically correct.
Wendy,
The only statistic requested was the number of pro wins that Bubbles has racked up. Here's a clue. Zero, nada, none.
It does appear that you are leaning to the defense of Bubbles.
Alex USMC 1969-73
03/11/08 @ 13:51
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Alex,
The only statistic requested was John Daly's rank. Here's a clue. 573rd.
If it were a question of meriting exemptions - neither of them in my opinion, but that's not what the sponsors base their invitations on, is it?
The only statistic requested was John Daly's rank. Here's a clue. 573rd.
If it were a question of meriting exemptions - neither of them in my opinion, but that's not what the sponsors base their invitations on, is it?
03/11/08 @ 14:10
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Wendy,
You just may have something there.
Perhaps folks attend an LPGA event to watch Bubbles implode.
Similarly, thousands used to stand around and cheer at public hangings in London. Or guillotinings in Paris.
At least Big John brings his guitar to the gin mill and strumms a few tunes for his fans. What post game entertainment does Bubbles offer?
You just may have something there.
Perhaps folks attend an LPGA event to watch Bubbles implode.
Similarly, thousands used to stand around and cheer at public hangings in London. Or guillotinings in Paris.
At least Big John brings his guitar to the gin mill and strumms a few tunes for his fans. What post game entertainment does Bubbles offer?
03/11/08 @ 16:50
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Alex,
Are you cross-blogging - viz Stewart Cink the new Greg Norman?
My credo is "Do unto others...... etc" I know that I would not have been cheering at the public hangings or knitting at the guillotine. There were similarly thousands who did not.
As the gentleman you have assured me you are, of which I have no doubt, and as the father of 3 daughters, I assume you take no delight in watching the implosion of a young immature girl. As for post game entertainment, you might think of the implications of that remark.
I am happy to debate with you on most topics, but I have absolutely no interest in the MW furor.
My views on John Daly have already been expressed on Shanks' blog.
Are you cross-blogging - viz Stewart Cink the new Greg Norman?
My credo is "Do unto others...... etc" I know that I would not have been cheering at the public hangings or knitting at the guillotine. There were similarly thousands who did not.
As the gentleman you have assured me you are, of which I have no doubt, and as the father of 3 daughters, I assume you take no delight in watching the implosion of a young immature girl. As for post game entertainment, you might think of the implications of that remark.
I am happy to debate with you on most topics, but I have absolutely no interest in the MW furor.
My views on John Daly have already been expressed on Shanks' blog.
03/11/08 @ 18:08
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Wendy,
Darling, this is a message board, don't take anything you read here seriously.
When I find so enjoyment in Bubbles latest foibles and failures, I'm not glorying in the implosion of an immature girl, as you would call her.
I'm having some sport with her legions of acolytes who predicted such grandiose things from her.
Her parents have chosen to extract every bit of filthy lucre possible from her. Her fans have staunchly defended their machinations. Bubbles herself, who incidentally has passed the age of majority, wholeheartedly approves of all of it. So she is hardly the poor, immature lass that you portray her as.
And the money grubbing still goes on.
Despite that fact that Bubbles was born and raised in Hawaii, and is now a part time student at Stanford University in California, her official state of residence is now Florida. The motivation behind this maneuver? Florida has no state income tax. So you see, money is still the prime consideration for the Wie machine.
So, if I and a few others want to tweak the noses of Bubbles, her parents, her entourage, and her legions of devoted and delusional fans, I will do just that.
You may look upon Bubbles as an immature girl, I do not. She's a professional and should be treated as one.
Alex USMC 1969-73
Darling, this is a message board, don't take anything you read here seriously.
When I find so enjoyment in Bubbles latest foibles and failures, I'm not glorying in the implosion of an immature girl, as you would call her.
I'm having some sport with her legions of acolytes who predicted such grandiose things from her.
Her parents have chosen to extract every bit of filthy lucre possible from her. Her fans have staunchly defended their machinations. Bubbles herself, who incidentally has passed the age of majority, wholeheartedly approves of all of it. So she is hardly the poor, immature lass that you portray her as.
And the money grubbing still goes on.
Despite that fact that Bubbles was born and raised in Hawaii, and is now a part time student at Stanford University in California, her official state of residence is now Florida. The motivation behind this maneuver? Florida has no state income tax. So you see, money is still the prime consideration for the Wie machine.
So, if I and a few others want to tweak the noses of Bubbles, her parents, her entourage, and her legions of devoted and delusional fans, I will do just that.
You may look upon Bubbles as an immature girl, I do not. She's a professional and should be treated as one.
Alex USMC 1969-73
03/12/08 @ 07:55
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Alex,
You mean you LIED to me about being a gentleman? I'm crestfallen at having been so gullible.
I think "Darling" is sailing a bit too close to the wind, don't you, given my temperament?
Enough of MW for me, thank you. Can't we get back to Lorena?
You mean you LIED to me about being a gentleman? I'm crestfallen at having been so gullible.
I think "Darling" is sailing a bit too close to the wind, don't you, given my temperament?
Enough of MW for me, thank you. Can't we get back to Lorena?
03/12/08 @ 09:31
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Wendy,
Me lie to a sweet thing like you? Never!
Right now, I view Lorena as the best of a mediocre lot.
As you know, women's golf offers me very little in the way of excitement.
The ladies play pitty-pat golf on pitty-pat courses. They can't drive, their irons are suspect, and their putting is atrocious.
On second thought, I wouldn't call Lorena the best of anything. Since "best' is the superlative form of "good", it is better to say that Lorena's play is not as poor as that of the rest of the broads.
Alex USMC 1969-73
Me lie to a sweet thing like you? Never!
Right now, I view Lorena as the best of a mediocre lot.
As you know, women's golf offers me very little in the way of excitement.
The ladies play pitty-pat golf on pitty-pat courses. They can't drive, their irons are suspect, and their putting is atrocious.
On second thought, I wouldn't call Lorena the best of anything. Since "best' is the superlative form of "good", it is better to say that Lorena's play is not as poor as that of the rest of the broads.
Alex USMC 1969-73
03/12/08 @ 12:49
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Alex,
No wonder you advise me not to take anything seriously that I read here. I thought you meant only about being a gentleman - now I know you really meant all your posts.
That's still 2 strikes I owe you now, by the way. I took 1 away for throwing you a John Daly. A little sneaky - but that's women for you.
No wonder you advise me not to take anything seriously that I read here. I thought you meant only about being a gentleman - now I know you really meant all your posts.
That's still 2 strikes I owe you now, by the way. I took 1 away for throwing you a John Daly. A little sneaky - but that's women for you.
03/12/08 @ 13:57
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
You ingrate. I divert him from his rantings on liberals and MW and that's the thanks I get. Made me grin, though.
03/13/08 @ 10:58
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Alex/Judge Smails
Why aren't you having any fun with MW's withdrawal from Safeway with injured wrist? Not like you two to miss an opportunity like that.
Why aren't you having any fun with MW's withdrawal from Safeway with injured wrist? Not like you two to miss an opportunity like that.
03/23/08 @ 14:57
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