Posted at 6:53 a.m., Thursday, January 31, 2008
Lorena Ochoa expected to skip Hawaii tournaments
By GILLIAN WONG
Associated Press Writer
Ochoa will begin her year at the HSBC Women's Champions, a new U.S. LPGA Tour-sanctioned stroke-play tournament starting Feb. 28 at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.
The LPGA season begins with two Hawai'i tournaments, the SBS Open and the Fields Open, which start on Feb. 14 and Feb. 21, respectively.
"It is amazing what Annika did but I would like to do that, to dominate the game and be number one for a long time," Ochoa said in a telephone interview with reporters in Singapore on Thursday. "I would love to retire as number one."
Ochoa took only five years on the LPGA Tour to establish her reign, replacing Sorenstam of Sweden at No. 1 in the women's world ranking in April last year.
Sorenstam has 84 career victories and won more than 41 percent of her starts between 2001 and 2005, but suffered a winless season last year hampered by neck and back injuries.
Ochoa captured her first major championship at last year's Women's British Open, making history as the first female to win a professional event at St. Andrews. With a fearless shot that defines her style, the Mexican capped off last year by winning the season-ending ADT Championship to become the first LPGA Tour player to top $4 million in one season.
With a $2 million purse and $300,000 top prize, the Singapore tournament will be the richest women's golf event in Asia.
U.S. women's tour winners this year will qualify for the event along with the top 30 players in the world rankings on Dec. 31, major champions in the last three years and winners of select tournaments, including the Japan Women's Open and 2008 Australian Women's Open.
Also competing for the winner's trophy will be Norwegian Suzann Pettersen — the world No.2 — and Paula Creamer of the United States, who has four LPGA victories.
Ochoa acknowledged that being at the top has brought more pressure, but she was trying to stay positive.
"I don't have as much free time as I used to have. I have to do many things for my sponsors and all the practicing time I need," Ochoa said. "I want to work on my short game, my putting. I am going to improve my practice routine every week and just play one tournament at a time."
Ochoa also said that she is involved in efforts to make golf a more accessible sport for her compatriots, saying she was surprised by the support she receives from Mexican fans.
"You get lots of crazy Mexicans, with the Mexican flag, running around," she said. "Not all of them understand the game but they all come and watch and walk with me and cheer with me as if I was playing a soccer match!"
