| | |  Americas & Beyond | July 2008 
Ochoa Sees Her Days On Tour As Numbered
 Beverley Smith - Globe and Mail
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| | Canadian Women's Open defending champion expects to play just another six years or so. | | |
Lorena Ochoa likes her spot at the top of women's golf. It gives her a good feeling. She's had a quick rise to get there - she's been kicking around the LPGA Tour for just six years - but she's learned to deal with the pressure. And she revels in it.
But don't expect her to follow in Arnold Palmer's footsteps, playing seniors' golf with silver hair flying in the breeze. Ochoa, 26, said yesterday that she may play perhaps just another six years.
She said she never intended to play as long as Annika Sorenstam, who will retire at the end of this year at 37.
Ochoa will defend her title at the CN Canadian Women's Open in Ottawa from Aug. 14 through 17. It's only the third time she's played at the LPGA event. And the Mexican icon has never been to Ottawa.
"I always said that I would like to play 10 or 12 years on the tour," she said yesterday on a conference call. "I could play for another six years, but I don't have a number in mind."
Ochoa said she'll think more on the subject in the next three or four years. But she knows she does not want to swing golf clubs and travel the world forever. "I think I would like to do something different," she said.
She said she wants to make it a priority to further develop her charitable foundation in Mexico, which she set up to help disadvantaged Mexican children in her hometown of Guadalajara. That work helped her to get into Time magazine's list of top 100 most influential people in May.
"I want to just stay in Mexico and become more of a normal person," Ochoa said. "You never know what's going to happen."
She said she'd also love to have a family.
She's had a trying time in the past month or two, losing two members of her family. Last month, her grandfather, Jorge Reyes, died while she was playing at the McDonald's LPGA Championship. And then she lost an uncle. She's made several trips back to Mexico, and admitted last week, after finishing in a tie for 31st at the U.S. Women's Open, that she felt mentally a little weak.
After the U.S. Open, she said she headed back to Mexico for some rest, some nose-to-the-grindstone practice, and some time with her family before she starts up again at the Evian Masters in France from July 24 through 27. Then off she'll go to the Ricoh Women's British Open the next week.
She'll have about 10 days off before returning to Canada for its premier women's golf tournament. This schedule, she said, should get her back into a better rhythm.
"I just want to make sure I spend some time with family and rest a little bit," Ochoa said. "... It's been a little bit awkward the last few weeks, coming on and off the tour. ... Family is the most important thing. I want to make sure I take back my routine."
At the U.S. Open, Ochoa couldn't overcome a slow start. Still, she's had a strong year, with $2-million (U.S.) in earnings, six wins in 12 starts and a No. 1 world ranking.
Expectations? Bring them on, Ochoa said. "I like to be in that position [No. 1]," Ochoa said. "I created that. Before I was trying to catch [up], and I was in the opposite situation. I like the way it feels. It feels right to be in the No. 1 position. I would like to stay there for a few more years."
"I'm trying to enjoy my moment," she added.
Besides, the more pressure, the more she's motivated to play better.
She would like to have played more Canadian Opens, but two years ago, she had a schedule conflict, having already committed to play at a tournament in Sweden. Last year, she said she made a point to set aside time, and get to Edmonton. She won.
"It was a great experience," Ochoa said. "And something I will never forget. For sure I will be there [in Ottawa], and I promise you will see me many more years."
Up to a point. |
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