Ochoa goes big-game fishing

KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- One look at Lorena Ochoa 's hat and you can tell the Mexican sensation hopes to hook something bigger than bluegill.

Even though she will not be an official member of the LPGA Tour until next season, Ochoa played in last week's First Union Betsy King Classic, sporting a sky-blue baseball cap with the slogan WOMEN WITH ATTITUDE emblazoned across the front.

But that isn't the true sign of her ambition. Attached to the brim of the cap is a two-inch gold fishing hook. Ochoa plans to reel in some of the LPGA's best.

THE SHAG BAG Two weeks ago I kidded Se Ri Pak about being the third-best Korean on the LPGA Tour. Now I'm sorry. The 24-year-old posted a nifty, course-tying 63 Sunday at the First Union Betsy King Classic to win her third title of the year and the 16th of her career. She no doubt will be the next player to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. ... Angela Stanford placed second, her career-best finish and better than her hometown Texas Rangers have done in the past decade. While Stanford's check for $109,590 doesn't compare to Alex Rodriguez 's take-home pay, she would like to have the chance to play the Rangers shortstop in a skins game. ... The biggest story of the week came from across the pond. Sweden's Maria Hjorth finished second at the WPGA Championship to jump into a tie with Denmark's Iben Tenning for the seventh, and last automatic, spot on the European Solheim Cup points standings. Dale Reid decided to take both players and forfeit one of her five captain's picks. Reid's selections -- Laura Davies , Mhairi McKay , Carin Koch and Helen Alfredsson -- were once again controversial. Snubbed were Janice Moodie and Catriona Matthew , both of whom sit higher than Alfredsson on the LPGA money list. ... U.S. captain Patty Sheehan has the tough task of picking two players to round out her squad after this week's State Farm Rail Charity Classic. I would urge her to go with Dorothy Delasin and Danielle Ammaccapane -- who, by the way, finished sixth last week. ... Karrie Webb placed third at the Betsy King and is hoping that her Miami Dolphins fair a little better during the NFL regular season. "A lot of fans start worrying that they have had an 0-2 start in the preseason," said Webb, a season-ticket holder for four years. "They put all their eggs in one basket with Ricky Williams ; we'll have to wait and see if that works out, but I think they are going to be much improved this year." ... Maggie Will holed out on her final hole, No. 9, in the last group Friday afternoon to make the cut on the nose. Will thought she needed a birdie so she was ecstatic when her shot from 95 yards went in for a deuce. "I used to always say to myself, 'Hey, I could always hole this shot to make the cut,' but lately I hadn't been thinking about it," Will said. "But when I first started to play I always had wanted to do that because I never wanted to give up." ... It's great that the LPGA Skins Game is returning next January in Hawaii, but how can the tour pick Laura Diaz , no offense, to play over Juli Inkster ? Reportedly, Laura Davies will defend the crown she won in 1999, against Annika Sorenstam , Webb and Diaz.

I told her she'd be more intimidating with a worm dangling from the end. "That's the only thing I don't like," Ochoa said, about having to bait her line.

After leaving the University of Arizona following her sophomore year and turning pro this past spring, Ochoa has been traveling the country with her 25-year-old brother, Alejandro , who is her caddie. In the back of the car are her golf clubs and their fishing rods. While she is quick to tell you about the 4-foot Northern Pike she caught a couple of weeks ago -- spreading her arms in the manner of all fish tales -- Ochoa is particularly proud of the LPGA card she landed by playing the Futures Tour.

Much like Grace Park a few years ago, Ochoa decided to earn her way onto the LPGA Tour by playing the official developmental tour of the LPGA rather than preparing for Q school. With half the season already finished, Ochoa knew that getting into the top three on the Futures Tour's money list wasn't going to be easy. Then again, this is the same woman who won eight out of her 10 college tournaments this season, including a record seven in a row.

"I know that Q school is just one week and if that isn't your week, say you get hurt or sick or something and then you have to wait another year," Ochoa said.

Patience is not one of Ochoa's best attributes, because by her ninth event on the Futures Tour she had won three times, recorded eight top-10s and secured the No. 1 spot on the money list. Now the 20-year-old, who still gets carded for R-rated movies, is the first Mexican-born member of the LPGA Tour -- and possibly its next superstar.

While she doesn't bomb it off the tee or hit every iron in the center of the clubface, Ochoa has an uncanny knack for getting the ball in the hole.

The key is her desire. At first glance, Ochoa betrays the innocence of a child on Christmas morning, but as she lines up a putt -- no matter if it's for birdie, par or bogey -- she has an intensity that would burn a hole through a wall. She looks as if she is on a mission.

"My ultimate goal is to be No. 1, but I know I still have a lot to learn and to improve," said Ochoa, who finished tied for 14th last week at 10-under par. "I think a more realistic goal for next year is to finish in the top-10 on the money list and win a tournament."

It's that profound look and hunger to succeed that has players like Hall of Famer Betsy King talking. "She's just going to develop as a superstar, like an [ Juli ] Inkster , a Karrie [ Webb ], an Annika [ Sorenstam ]," said King. "They did well their first year and they just kept doing better and better. I think that's what's going to happen to her."

Congratulating her on earning her LPGA card for the 2003 season, I joked, "Next year you'll be reeling in some big fish -- like Annika, Karrie and Se Ri [ Pak ]."

Ochoa just rolled her big brown eyes and giggled. But you could tell it wasn't a joke to her. In a short period of time, everyone will be looking to catch her.

Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section, is a longtime caddie on the LPGA Tour. Click here to send him a question or comment.

 

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