TERRE HAUTE —
LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan already had a tough job, trying to promote the LPGA tour and keep the 25 events that they have on the schedule, but that job was made tougher last week when the tour’s No. 1 player announced her retirement from the game at the ripe old age of 28.
Whan is putting a positive spin on her departure though. In an e-mail sent to players after Lorena Ochoa’s announcement April 23, he said that Ochoa “made the LPGA better AND she’ll make the LPGA better when she’s not playing. So I don’t consider Lorena’s departure from us a loss. It’s only been a gain.”
Easy for him to say, but the proof is yet to be seen. Ochoa was a charismatic and fierce competitor whom the crowd could relate to because she tended to wear her emotions on her sleeve. She also was known for not ever ducking out of an interview and always signed autographs.
Why would someone seemingly at the top of her game, and ranked first in the world, decide to retire? Well, for one thing, she wanted to go out on top. When asked at her press conference how she would feel when she gets passed as No. 1. She smiled and replied, “I will never be passed. I retired as No. 1. I will always be No. 1.”
It was 3 years to the date of her retirement announcement since she had overtaken Annika Sorenstam as the No. 1 player. (When Annika retired she was ranked 3rd in the world, partly due to a season battling neck problems.)
Other reasons had to do with changes in her priorities, most likely because of her recent marriage to Andres Conesa, an Aeromexico executive with three children between the ages of 7 and 14. After she won the Navistar LPGA Classic in October of 2009, it made her think about everything more. After that tournament she spoke with Andres and said, “I am ready to start a new life.”
She found, even at that tournament, that golf didn’t bring the same joy that it always had. “If you make a bogey or make a birdie and feel the same, or if you win a tournament and don’t feel that adrenaline rush and all the excitement, then you need to realize that something is wrong.”
There were other signs after that, pointing the way to her eventual retirement. Her game wasn’t up to her standards, and she was showing her temper, slamming clubs and throwing balls. She said she felt she needed to be brave to see those signs, and make her decision. She said, “It is more something that happens inside, it is more something that is in your heart. “
She played her last tournament in at Tres Marias in Morelia, Mexico. Ochoa has established herself as one of Mexico’s greatest sport icons, and is ranked as one of her country’s five most successful athletes of all time.
Lorena intends to remain active in golf, to some extent. She will host and play in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in November. She plans to practice and work out so she can participate in corporate outings, and is not ruling out playing via sponsor’s exemptions in a few tournaments in a couple of years. She plans to put more energy into raising awareness of her foundation, which helps disadvantaged children in Mexico.
Ochoa and Sorenstam have been the only No. 1 players on the LPGA tour for the past decade. There is no clear favorite waiting in the wings to claim the new spot at the top. In the current Rolex Rankings Jiyai Shin from Korea is No. 2, Yani Tseng, from Taiwan is No. 3, and Suzann Pettersen, from Norway, No. 4.
Then 5-to-10 are Ai Miyazato, Cristie Kerr, Anna Nordqvist, Karrie Webb, and Michelle Wie. Jiyai Shin’s rookie year on the LPGA tour was 2009, when she won the both the Rolex Player of the Year and the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year. She could be a new sensation, but she’s also a new name.
Even the PGA Tour gets better TV ratings when well known pros are winning. If the LPGA offers a bunch of unrecognizable names at their tournaments, they’ll have more trouble getting viewers to watch, patrons to attend the tournaments, and thus have an even harder time holding onto sponsors. The LPGA is going to need some great play and great personalities to generate some excitement for their tour.
Quote of the Day: “I never felt the pressure or weight. It was joy and happiness. I did my best, and it’s been a wonderful ride.” — Lorena Ochoa, when asked if being No. 1 contributed to her retirement.
Upcoming Events: The Terre Haute Women’s Golf Association will have their Combo Tournament on May 15 at Rea Park. Tee times begin at 8 a.m. The format is six holes best ball, six holes alternate shot, and six holes scramble. Entry fee is $15 plus green fees and carts.
Flyers are available at area courses, or call Kelly Gosnell at (812) 894-2299 for more information.
On & Off the Course
On and Off the Course: Ochoa’s departure to impact LPGA
- On & Off the Course
-
-
Death Notice: Feb. 7, 2013
• Gary R. Wright
-
Donna Lynn Strahla Bown
Donna Lynn Strahla Bown passed away early Friday morning, Jan. 25, 2013, with her children by her side.
-
‘The Match’ pitting amateurs vs. pros recalled 62 years later
Quote of the Day: “I play golf with friends sometimes, but there are never friendly games.” — Ben Hogan.
Bubba Watson has had a busy fall. Not only did he play all the way to the final round of the FedEx Championships, and in the Ryder Cup, he also played in an event commemorating a very famous match played at Cypress Point in 1956, pitting two of the greatest golf pros at the time against two of the best amateurs.
Come to think of it, all four were some of the best golfers of all time. This year’s event was celebrating The First Tee’s exceeding $100 million in pledges to reach 10 million new young people. It wasn’t televised and kept very quiet; only 225 people were in the gallery.
One of the people in the gallery was Mark Frost, the author of a book titled “The Match,” which is about that match played 62 years ago that was re-enacted in modern terms last week. The pros in 1956 were Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson and the amateurs were Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward. It was supposed to have been a private affair, built around a wager by two millionaires, George Coleman and Eddie Lowery. -
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf from the wrong side of the brain
Imagine this scenario: a woman, small in stature (possibly freckled), walks into a hospital emergency room and says, “I have an emergency, I need a doctor quickly!” The admitting nurse, ever trying to be helpful, asks what the emergency is.
-
Farmers looking at widely varying yields
Combines will roll through fields this weekend, bringing in the harvest from a summer with nearly no rain.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf debut in London would have been nice
As the Olympics get underway in London this weekend, I was thinking it’s too bad that the Olympic committee decided too late to add golf as one of the sports for this event; instead it will be added to the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Getting to Hoosier country’s best golfing venue part of the fun
If you are looking for Indiana’s premier golfing destination, then you should look no further than French Lick.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Indiana's Pete Dye courses worth the drive
You’ve probably heard of the Robert Trent Jones Golf trail throughout Alabama, but you might not be aware that Indiana has its own “Pete Dye Golf Trail” comprised of seven courses.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Fathers typically a big influence on golfing sons
Some events fall naturally into place around holidays. The Fourth of July always falls somewhere during Wimbledon, giving all of the Yanks in attendance something to be boisterous about, to the chagrin of their hosts; The Masters often, but not always, ends on Easter Sunday, which is fitting since golfers find it such a reverent occasion.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Memorial just one of many visions of Jack Nicklaus
When Jack Nicklaus was a young man, the golfer he most admired was Bob Jones.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: With some tricky rules, golf is not a walk in the park
Golf is not a casual sport, even though it has a term called “casual water.”
-
On and off the course: Sycamores seeded sixth heading into MVC golf tourney
It wasn’t too long ago that Indiana State University didn’t even have a women’s golf team.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: A hard ticket to come by
This is the weekend of the Masters Tournament, the first of the four major tournaments.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Some things on golf course are worse than steep putts
It’s not often that anything gets more scary on a golf course than a steep downhill putt, but on some courses around the world, things a little more on the supernatural side might give you a bigger fright!
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The shot heard round the world
I don’t know if the Golf Channel will show a “Best Shots of 2011” highlight reel, much like ESPN does for baseball or football.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The Red, White and Blue visits the Isle of Green
In 2006, the Ryder Cup was held in Ireland at The K Club in County Kildare.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Fall may be coming but golf season is far from over
Once the major tournaments are over with, what’s there to look forward to in the world of golf?
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf… simplified!
Golf is not a simple game. A golf course is made up of 18 holes, all different. There are par-3s, par-4s and par-5s; they all vary in length and elevation, and each has its own challenges. There can be water hazards, trees, sand bunkers, tall grass, hills, valleys — and then, if that’s not enough, there’s probably wind too.
-
On and Off the Course: Northern Ireland builds on golf history
Northern Ireland is only about 5,452 square miles in area and has a population about the same as West Virginia, which is about 1,880,344.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Women’s Open at the Broadmoor
This is the weekend of the U.S. Women’s Open, and this year it’s being played at The Broadmoor, East Course, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The Fort Golf Course: A Walk in the Park…
Indiana has some pretty spectacular state parks, but one of them gives you the ability to “spoil a good walk” by chasing a little white ball.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Father’s Day is a good day for golfers
Most people consider the time around Christmas to be the gift-buying season.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Playing with lead a difficult task
As exciting as last week’s Masters was, with six players being tied for the lead at one point on Sunday, it was very difficult watching Rory McIlroy fall apart to shoot an 80.
-
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Masters a rite of spring
This is Masters weekend, the grand kickoff to the golf season for a lot of golfers. Sure, there have been tournaments on TV, because the professionals have been playing in Hawaii, California, Texas, Dubai, and other areas not so affected by winter as we are here in the Midwest, but to me, watching The Masters is a rite of spring.
-
ON THE OFF THE COURSE: Some history on the Ryder Cup
I fell asleep in way too many history classes to ever qualify as a history buff. However, since I have grown up a bit (not much), I enjoy learning about all kinds of history. I often have questions about how something began, or how something came to be.
-
On and Off the Course: Purdue's Kampen Course a gem in Indiana's rough
About a month ago, Indiana was still heavily mired in heat and humidity, making outdoor activities such as golf less appealing than usual. At that time it felt like the repressive heat would never go away, it would never rain again, and all of the grass was just going to continue to wither and die. And the month prior to that we kept getting rained out of golf events!
-
On and Off the Course: Successful golfers know ... focus is the key
I have a good friend who coached his daughter’s basketball team for a number of years, and told me that his theme with the girls was always “focus”, until it was ingrained in their brains. Now when they play high school ball, if they hear “focus” yelled from the stands, they know the source.
-
On and Off the Course: Technology adds even more fun to the course
You’ve hit a drive into some brush in an area marked as a hazard, but you can’t find the ball to prove it is there. And no one actually witnessed it go in the hazard. You just think that’s where it probably is. What is the rule for this situation?
-
On and Off the Course: Anthony Gonzalez First Tee Classic a worthwhile charity event
On Monday, I worked as a volunteer for the Anthony Gonzalez First Tee Classic, Golf Tournament and Auction at Eagle Creek Golf Course in Indianapolis. It was an absolutely beautiful day, with clear blue skies, just a few wispy clouds here and there and a high temperature of about 76 degrees.
-
On and Off the Course: Trends show golf in decline
You don’t have to watch the news or read the paper to understand that America is struggling on the economic front. The evidence can be witnessed at the local golf course.
- More On & Off the Course Headlines
-
Death Notice: Feb. 7, 2013
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
AP CEO: Records Seizure 'Unconstitutional'
Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Today in History for May 20th
Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Raw: Gun Scare Mars Cannes Film Festival
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Today in History for May 19th
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school
Khloe Lashes Out at Kim Kardashian's Critics
RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air
Oklahoma tornado survivor: "Everything is gone"
Couple Argues As Woman's Lover Crawls Out Window
RAW: Brad Paisley Forgets Lyrics To His Own Song
Justin Bieber Gets Booed
New 'Anchorman 2' Trailer, Drake Joins List of Rumored Cameos
Eva Longoria's Wardrobe Malfunction
Heat Star Dwyane Wade Surprises Coral Gables Teen At Prom
Steak n' Shake waitress scores huge tip
Singer Miguel Accidentally Lands on Fan At Billboard Music Awards
Celebs Celebrate the Rise of the Side Butt
Grizzly bear gets up close and personal with camera
Justin Bieber Gets Booed After Winning at the Billboard Awards
Singer forgets lyrics, makes up words to National Anthem
Who is $600M Powerball winner in Fla.?
Top 5 Plays of the Day
