Lorena Ochoa had a short time to enjoy her status as the world?s No. 1 women?s golfer. Then the questions began pouring in: When will you win a major?
Ochoa was asked that Tuesday afternoon at Bulle Rock, where she?ll try to win the McDonald?s LPGA Championship ? the season?s second major ? this weekend.
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“My dad is asking me that,” Ochoa said with a laugh. “It?s just an amount of time. I?ve been good not to really stress too much and put a lot of pressure on me from what the press says or what people say outside. I?m just trying to enjoy where I am right now. I think I have a good chance to get a tournament [win] this week.”
Young star Morgan Pressel, 18, knows the feeling.
“I think you [media] guys put extra pressure on her,” said Pressel, who won her first major this year. “Whether she feels that, I don?t know.”
Ochoa will tee off on the first hole this afternoon at 12:26, hoping to improve upon her ninth-place finish at this event a year ago. She shot a 5-under-par 283. But she seemed to put that out of her mind rather quickly.
“I think I finished, what? Top 10? But I can?t remember what happened,” Ochoa chuckled.
A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Ochoa is beginning to pick up some popularity in the United States.
“It?s starting to change a little bit ? I guess just having a little bit more time on TV and more attention,” Ochoa said. “It?s been good so far.”
Despite being No. 1 in the world, she has yet to land a deal with a club manufacturer. She is partial, however, to her set of Ping clubs that she has been using since January.
“You never know ? maybe in the future, we have something with them,” Ochoa said.
While the rest of the golf world is adapting to its new star, Ochoa isn?t allowing herself to feel any different.
“I?ve prepared myself to be in this position, and this is my first major being No. 1,” Ochoa said. “So I don?t need to prove anything. I?m just going to try to play my own game and give myself a good chance.”
Ochoa was asked about her experiences with McDonald?s, this tournament?s title sponsor. Ochoa is involved with the Ronald McDonald House in Mexico City. She was given a McDonald?s french fry head cover as a gift this week, and also admitted to trying the food.
“Yes, of course,” Ochoa said, “and a Happy Meal.”
On Sunday, she?s hoping her Happy Meal prize includes a major championship.
THE OCHOA FILE
» Age: 25
» Height: 5-foot-6
» Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico
» College: Arizona
» Did you know? Began golfing at the age of 5 ? Made her LPGA debut in 2003 ? Career-low round is a 62 ? She won the Safeway International on March 25 and the Sybase Classic on May 20.
