Spotlight on… Lorena Ochoa - The Glenmuir Journal

From humble beginnings to her captivating rise to the top, here’s everything you need to know about golfer Lorena Ochoa…

Who is Lorena Ochoa?

Mexican golf veteran Lorena Ochoa is a top professional golfer who spent a record 158 weeks as the top-ranked female golfer in the world. She entered the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017 and is considered to be the best Latin American female golfer and best Mexican golfer ever.

Where did she come from?

Ochoa has often spoken of her humble childhood in Guadalajara, where she was raised with three other siblings. At the age of five, she took up golf, encouraged by her parents, and she won her first state event at six. By the time she was seven years old, she had a national event win under her belt, too.

As a junior, Ochoa sought out tutoring to help her achieve her ambition of being the best player in the world. After winning five titles at the Junior World Golf Championships, she went on to excel in women’s collegiate golf, winning the NCAA Player of the Year Awards twice.

How did she rise to the top?

In 2001, Ochoa was awarded the Mexican National Sports Award, becoming the youngest person and the first golfer to win the sports accolade. After leaving college in her second year to turn professional, she then won three events on the 2002 Futures Tour.

She won her first two LPGA Tour titles in 2004 – the Franklin American Mortgage Championship and the Wachovia LPGA Classic – and went on to be featured in the top 10 for three of the four major championships.

Ochoa’s career peak came in 2007, where she became the top-ranked female golfer in the world – a title she held until her retirement in 2010. She returned to professional golf in 2017 for a brief stint at the Lorena Ochoa Match Play in the LPGA Tour, but mainly focuses on her foundation, which promotes education for underprivileged children in Mexico.

What are her key achievements?

Ochoa’s prolific ranking was enhanced by her wins across many major tournameZnts. She boasts two LPGA Tour major championship wins and 25 other LPGA Tour wins, as well as three Futures Tour achievements.

What’s her golfing style? Q

Ochoa’s signature white logo cap is often paired with a bright polo shirt and pastel coloured shorts for a look that screams style as well as comfort.

Think utility dressed up with a few smart accessories: a leather belt and a watch add a simple elegance to Ochoa’s outfit.