The Golf Watch

Wrap-up: Same ‘ol on the LPGA, Imada breaks through at AT&T

It was business as usual this week on the LPGA Tour as Lorena Ochoa won for the sixth time in '08 at the Sybase Classic.  The victory comes five days after Annika Sorenstam announced that she will retire at the end of the season.  Ochoa and Sorenstam have combined for 9 wins already this year.  The record for most combined wins by two single players on the LPGA is 20 by Kathy Whitworth and Carol Mann in 1968. 

As for the PGA Tour, Ryudi Imaja broke through for his first PGA Tour win at the AT&T Classic, defeating Kenny Perry on the first playoff hole.  Imada, a Georga bulldog alum, felt right at home after the win with a number of fans woofing in the stands.  Interestingly, Imada lost last year to Zach Johnson in a playoff.  This year, Imada caught a lucky break on the first playoff hole when Perry's second shot hit a tree well to the right of the green, ricocheting into the water. 

Read the wire recaps here and here.

Ochoa should play with the men

Steve Elling of CBSSportsline wrote an interesting article on Wednesday about the prospect of Lorena Ochoa playing on the PGA Tour.  Ochoa, a native of Mexico, has already been invited to play at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, which is played just north of Cancun.  Ochoa addressed the topic last week:

My idea was first to play on the LPGA and dominate here and just try to do my best and achieve my goals.  But right now I have no intentions to (accept a men's exemption).

I think it's completely different. I think there are other things that I could do to improve my game or to have an experience, maybe an exhibition, but not to play on the PGA.

Though the response isn't promising, Elling provides his own argument...

Moving up a league seems downright logical, since tedium could set in at any moment -- if not for her, then her growing fan base. She's has won her five LPGA starts this year by an average of 7.6 strokes, including a pair by 11. Yeah, a touchdown, field goal and two-point conversion amount to a pretty big deficit in golf.

When Annika Sorenstam played against the boys at Colonial in 2003, it created a three-tiered public-relations boon for her career, the event and the LPGA. Ochoa last year supplanted Sorenstam as No. 1 in the women's rankings, and though the notion of females competing against men has since been relegated to the stuff of desperate publicity stunts (see: Michelle Wie), Ochoa's presence in a field can be justified on a competitive level.

I completely agree with Elling.  Ochoa has been crushing her opponents and has been playing with the ferocity and determination of a Tiger Woods.  She has a lifelong invitation to Mayakoba, which is now staged the same week as the Accenture Match Play.  What better place to start than there.

Ochoa putting LPGA Tour on the map

For the fourth straight week, Lorena Ochoa has won on the LPGA Tour.  This is significant not only because this is the first time something like this has happened on the tour in 45 years, but also because Ochoa is helping the LPGA get the attention it deserves.  If you checked out the front page of Sports Monday in the New York Times, Ochoa's win was the top story.  As Mike Wilbon pointed out on yesterday's edition of Pardon the Interruption, there is no way a Cristie Kerr win would have made front page.

There has been an argument that Ochoa lacks the charisma of a Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam, and therefore will never garner that same notoriety.  Though she isn't as graceful as the aforementioned players, she is media friendly, and has opened up more and more over the years. 

When was the last time an LPGA tour event (not including a major) was talked about more than a tournament on the PGA Tour?  My point exactly.

Ochoa claims sixth victory of '07 at Safeway

Lorena Ochoa won her third straight tournament this past weekend at the Safeway Classic, her sixth victory of the year.  Tim Rosaforte said on Sunday night's Golf Central, "This woman has been ingratiating herself to people all over the world this summer, not only with her golf, but the way she has handled her success."  Ochoa increases her lead over Karrie Webb in the world golf ranking to 8.66 average points and is now the LPGA's all-time single season money winner with 2.89 million dollars. 

Ochoa wins for fifth time in ’07 at Canadian Open

Lorena Ochoa has proven once again that she is the number one golfer in the world with a win earlier today at the Canadian Women's Open, her fifth victory of the year.  Ochoa shot a 2-under 69, edging Paula Creamer by three strokes.  "I was very happy with my back-9.  I think it demonstrated that I’m in control of my game and I’m enjoying myself a lot," said Ochoa after her round. 

World number one Ochoa wins first major

Lorena Ochoa won her first major championship earlier today at the Ricoh Women's British Open after firing a 1-over 74, giving her a four shot victory over Jee Young Lee and Maria Hjorth.  Ochoa said after her round, "It’s been a blessing just the whole way, and a long way, too, 24 majors and finally I have this here and I think it’s for a reason and I couldn’t be more happy."  Ochoa became the first Mexican born player to win a major championship on the LPGA. 

Ochoa says she is ready to win first major, has six stroke lead

After leading by only one stroke heading into today's third round at the Women's British Open, Lorena Ochoa now has a six stroke lead after firing an even-par 73.  Ochoa, who is currently ranked first in the world, will be seeking her first major championship.  "I’m just trying to really enjoy every moment…I’m ready," said Ochoa to Tom Abbott of The Golf Channel.  Tim Rosaforte of Golf World said on the Sprint Post Game, "I think she is going to win the golf tournament tomorrow."

Ochoa still holds lead at British Open, Wie misses cut

Lorena Ochoa still holds the lead after the second round of the Women's British Open.  Ochoa fired an even-par 73 and has a one stroke lead over Wendy Ward and Catriona Matthew.  Annika Sorenstam trails by three strokes.  As for Michelle Wie, the 18-year-old followed her even-par 73 with a 7-over 80 to miss the cut by two strokes.  Curt Byrum said on the Sprint Post Game, "You know what, I wish she had the time to go home and heal up.  I just don’t think she’s right." 

Byrum: No excuse for Ochoa

The world's number one golfer, Lorena Ochoa, has the first round lead at the Women's British Open at 6-under-par and a two shot lead over Louise Friberg and In-Bee Park.  Despite Ochoa's top ranking, she is still looking to win her first major championship.  Curt Byrum of The Golf Channel said the following on the Sprint Post Game: "I think that she has to win this.  There is no excuse now.  She is off to a great start in round 1.  She’s set herself up to win this tournament.  She needs a win in a major to prove herself."

Ochoa takes early first round lead at British Open

Lorena Ochoa fired a 6-under 67 on Thursday to take the early first round lead at the Ricoh Women's British Open.  Ochoa, who is still seeking her first major championship, had a bogey-free round with six birdies altogether.  Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, and Michelle Wie finished at even-par.