Lorena Ochoa - Part 2 (College Years and Turning Pro)

In this second installment of our four-part conversation with two-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Lorena Ochoa, we dive into her collegiate journey, the transition to professional golf, and the defining moments that shaped her career.

Lorena reflects on her time at the University of Arizona, where she quickly became a dominant force in college golf, winning Player of the Year honors twice and setting the stage for what would become a legendary career. She shares the challenges she faced as an international student, from language barriers to adjusting to life in the U.S., and how she embraced every opportunity to grow as both a golfer and a person.

From there, we follow her bold decision to turn professional, bypassing Q-School by earning her LPGA Tour card through the Futures Tour. She recounts the intensity of those early years, the pressure of proving herself, and the mentors—including Annika Sörenstam and Betsy King—who helped guide her through the transition. Lorena also shares the thrill of her first professional win, the emotions of standing on the 18th green with her family watching, and the mindset that allowed her to consistently dominate, winning by an average margin of 3.74 strokes—a staggering statistic that underscores her greatness.

This episode offers a rare look at the determination, strategy, and passion that fueled Lorena’s rise to world number one. Tune in for an inspiring discussion about chasing dreams, handling pressure, and the road to becoming a legend.

🎧 Listen now and stay tuned for Part 3, where we dive into the peak of Lorena's LPGA career and the moments that defined her reign at the top, "FORE the Good of the Game."

Transcript

Mike Gonzalez 0:15

Unlike some of our guests who uh you know, you mentioned Julie Inkster and Betsy King and Patty Sheen and some of that vintage, you know, they they came along uh at or before uh Title IX came along in the United States, which sort of attempted to level the playing field for men and women uh uh athletically in college. In college. Uh that was certainly in place uh long before 2000 when you started thinking about going to school. And so the opportunities for women were a lot different than what some of your uh your older peers uh faced, right?

Lorena Ochoa 0:48

Yes, yes, for sure. Uh I think, you know, even like like I said, being Mexican, um it was it was something different, it was something special, not necessarily bad, because I have no other Mexican player woman before me. So there were cool you know a couple of girls in in college, but they didn't really want it to be a professional or or they didn't have the ability, they just really took advantage of having a great education and experience of you know being a student um athlete, which I think is the best thing in the world. Um and for me, I have uh nobody to compare, right? You know, myself. So we create our own path, and that was something beautiful. Um and then, yes, then we have more scholarships to go to college. Um I was very lucky to have uh a professional uh teacher, Kevin Hansen, uh from the States. He came to Guadalajara to work a little bit in Guadalajara and he told me, Lorena, go to college and apply to these, you know, three, four different universities and just live this uh you know great experience. And he helped me, you know, to get uh into that direction. And I started dreaming about going to college, and and then I find my way going to the University of Arizona, which was the best decision ever. Yes.

Bruce Devlin 2:17

Quite a record there too. Once you got into college, uh I'd like to I'd like to just mention what happened the second year that you were there. You won eight out of ten events, and seven of them in a row, which which is pretty amazing, really. Uh quite quite a quite a um a college career, even though it was only a couple of years.

Lorena Ochoa 2:43

Yes. Bruce, well, you know, great memories. I um I have something to say. I like I said, I had really you know bad years before going to college. And when I first uh arrived uh in Tucson at the University of Arizona, I was okay. I I I feel comfortable here. The team was great. I have a already a girl from Colombia, Christina Baena, that I knew uh well, and Natalie Golvis also, and I felt comfortable. We went to our first um college event and I was overwhelmed, you know. The traveling, the uniforms, all the teams, you know, and I was just you know coming from a small town in Guadalajara, and I I was very impressed. And and I played not my best golf, and I finished sixth. And I thought myself, well, I'm gonna be quiet, but I feel comfortable, you know, because if I didn't play good and I finished sixth, I'm gonna I'm gonna be okay, you know. But I was I was quiet, you know, and and and then the next um tournament, I don't know if the next or the third tournament I played, I won. I remember in in New Mexico. And it was beautiful because then I thought, okay, this is something, you know, I'm I'm ready. You know, I and again the pieces started, you know, getting together because I was very patient for a few years that I didn't feel okay. And then in college, I really felt comfortable. I had a beautiful team, I love the opportunity. I mean, when you get there and you see all you have, you know, the facility and and the coaching, you know, training also with it with the sports psychology, going to the gym. I love going to the gym and uh all the equipment. I mean, it was just so beautiful. You know, I just wrapped everything, you know. I took the whole experience and and really um that was the best time.

Mike Gonzalez 4:35

You know, we we we always ask our guests about the early pro years, and we'll come to that uh because that's a big adjustment for anybody, right? That first year on tour, and yes, they don't know the courses, they don't know the cities, they don't know where to eat, they don't know a lot of things. Uh but for you that's magnifying because you're coming from a foreign country. Uh, you can share with us uh how good your English was back when you first started there.

Lorena Ochoa 4:58

No, no, no. I must say I fell uh two times the SAT. No, no, no, because I knew golf about the traveling and playing some competition. And when you talk about uh writing an essay, you know, with all the grammar, and you know, um of course I was I was not uh good enough. So I barely passed um you know the SAT and I went to college and I wanted to sign in for some other classes, a little bit more difficult, and you know, my advisor told me no, and I just take the easiest, you know, until you're comfortable, you know, and and we talk about that later. But English was really a struggle for me at the beginning. I mean, all the international students we we go through that difficult time.

Mike Gonzalez 5:44

Sure, yeah, I can I can imagine it was. Uh in addition to all the other newness. But as you said, you were you were a seasoned traveler at that point, so that wasn't the aspect that was the most troublesome, but just just basic command of the language. And if you had to take exams and classes in a foreign language, I mean it's just something we we can't fully appreciate. Yeah. So two years in college, you obviously had a very successful career. You seem to be driven and driven and driven at a very young age to excel and make golf your life. Was there a particular time you remember when you said, ah, I'm gonna play this for a living?

Lorena Ochoa 6:24

Well, you know, uh Rafa and I we have this um idea of trying myself um as an amateur playing uh some professional events. So we knew that maybe four years it was too much in college because there is like a certain point where there are so many things that you have to do, you know, and and um with all the obligations that are uh great, but then you have to keep a good balance, and then you have sometimes less hours of uh practice because you have to deal with all the other responsibilities. And it was it was too much for me. And I wanted to be there 100% for golf. And I remember uh going to the practice, you know, uh with the coach and the team, and then right away I put my clubs at the trunk of my car, and then I go to a public uh golf range and just spend hours there on my own, hitting at night, you know, for hours and trying to challenge myself. And and then I realized uh I was invited to play as an amateur, few of the professional events. Uh, first in Tucson, the LPJ was there, then in Phoenix, the LPJ was there, and then I I got the honor uh of uh playing the Craft Navisco Championship at Dinah Shore at the moment. And um and I played really good at three events. I I mean I I don't want to make a mistake, but probably I finished like 12th or 16th, and then you know, 10th, and and I really uh thought, you know, I'm I'm ready to play professional golf, you know, because I I kind of like put myself in that really you know difficult position to play as an amateur, and I did okay, you know. I measured myself, you know, with the top players in the world, and I told Rafa, I think I'm ready. You know, I feel comfortable that you know I'm sure 100% sure I'm able to play at the top uh you know with the professionals, and and I'm gonna I'm gonna leave school.

Mike Gonzalez 8:25

So I want to take you back to the first day. You're in Chicago, I believe. Chicago. At the Merit Club.

Lorena Ochoa 8:35

Ah, for the US Open with Rafael as my caddy. I remember that.

Mike Gonzalez 8:40

So you just show up, you get on the practice tee, and you start looking around. Tell us what was going through your mind.

Lorena Ochoa 8:48

Wow, that was beautiful. Yes. Um well, I asked Rafa, Rafa, please come and caddy for me. And Rafa was so excited, so we we arrived there. Beautiful, beautiful setup. That is a beautiful golf course. Uh yes, but that's the best feeling when you get your name, you know, in the range and your Lorena Ochoa, your Mexican flag, and then you know, you start hitting balls, and you look, you know, around and you see all the greatest players, you know. And you're trying not to be intimidated, but you know, you're hitting some balls and you're like, wow. Um that's thank you for bringing that memory, Mike. It's just um it gives you this feeling, you know, especially the motivation that I wanna be here, you know, for the rest of my life. You know, it's like it's kind of like you watch them and you are like, you know, with a lot of respect and yes, intimidation too, and you are you watch them. Uh, but then also you get like, you know, I could be them, you know, I could hit the ball that way, and and then you go to your practice uh round, really difficult. It's a challenge to the US Woman's Open, it's just a setup that is very difficult as an amateur. And then you get that reminder, you know, you have to be patient, you have to have a lot of respect for other players, you need to learn, you know, and it's going to be a long road. But it gives you on the top the top a lot of motivation, you know. And to me, it was that way. You open my eyes and say, I want to be here, you know, this is where I belong. Yes.

Mike Gonzalez 10:23

Yeah, this is gonna be my stage. Yeah. Well, I'm I'm sure that was a fun, fun memory. Of course, you you did have a chance, as you said, to measure yourself against some of the best in the world in some professional events before you made the decision. But let's take you back to that decision-making process. I'm sure uh part of your process would have been again uh involving those closest to you in talking through your goals and what you wanted to do. Just take us through that decision process to turn professional.

Lorena Ochoa 10:52

Yes, well, I think, you know, I I don't recall, I mean, it was not that uh difficult. Um my parents were like, okay, you know, we we support you, fine. If you want to leave a college after two years, I mean your reasons. Um they already were, I mean, there was 100% because they they also saw me, you know, when I put myself playing with the professionals, uh, I did okay, you know, and and they told me you are ready. And then we start all this. I remember I grabbed the phone and I called Annika, for instance. And and I say, Anica, I know that you you know you play here at the University of Arizona and then you try a professional, and I just want to ask you for a little advice. I have no idea how to pick, you know, a um manager. Like um I have no idea where to start. And you know, how can I do this, you know? And she was super nice. And she uh talked to me about the whole process, um, you know, and the differences about uh, you know, the managers and um and also you know uh how to you know practice and then you you if you play a qualifying school or you play at the time was a futures tour, and then you know how many tournaments, the budget. I also asked about the budget and how expensive or how do I you know charge for a hat, you know, and and she was super nice. I remember that call. I was so nervous, you know, but I was okay, I'm gonna call Annika. And um and then I didn't have a credit card. So my first trip, I was okay, what do I do? You know, like how do I get to Chicago or to Michigan? I I can't remember where I was going to that first uh tournament, and my father and my brother they were coming with me, and I have no credit card, you know. And you know, my parents at the time they they didn't have uh money, and my my father, you know, he never gave me a credit card, and I was okay, I cannot make a hotel reservation or to rent a car, yeah. And I actually I remember calling a big bank uh and I say hey, please, you know, give me a credit card, you know, you have no income, you know, no work and nothing. It's a challenge to get that, you know, your first few events is really a challenge. And because in college you have to make the decision, okay, I have you know$20. Should I go to the movies or should I get a uh phone card and call Mexico, you know, and talk to my friends? But in in in professional, it's a little bit different. Yeah.

Mike Gonzalez 13:35

Yeah, it's just such a big step, and and again, uh, you know, not knowing where you're going and whatever. But anyway, you you you make the decision to turn professional. Uh, did you have to go through qualifying school?

Lorena Ochoa 13:48

No, I played the futures tour. Um, that's why I turned professional in May, if I'm correct. I I and then right away I started playing uh the futures tour, which I only have that uh summer part, but I played 10 tournaments in a row, and I earned my LPGA uh card through that. Uh I only played half of the season, but I was able to play good. I won a few events as a professional. I got the whole experience. I played with Christina Kim. Uh it was great to have her. We become friends, you know, during that time. Um it was beautiful. So then after that, I I put that the pressure off me because I didn't play the qualifying um tour.

Mike Gonzalez 14:34

Yeah, okay. All right. Well, before we jump ahead to your professional career, I would do want to mention a couple of things about uh your career in college. That's an important part of your story. You were player of the year in the NCAA both years you were at the uh University of Arizona. Uh runner-up in the NCAAs both of those years as individual uh player, I assume. Uh 2001 National Coaches, Golf Coaches Association, All-American first team. Uh you won the Pac-10. That's, you know, okay, that's that's a big deal, but not as big a deal as uh as being player of the year two years. Uh uh Golf Stat Cup winner for low stroke average in both 2001-2002. This was just sort of a harbinger of things to come. It was just uh putting Lorena Joe on the map in the college and saying, boy, wait till she turns pro and and and turn pro you did. Uh Bruce, we talk about uh just some of the recap of uh of Lorena's record as a professional, uh turning professional at age 20 in the year 2002. What a record! I'd be a lost record.

Lorena Ochoa 15:41

Well thank you. Well, that's just uh something great memories, you know. I um thank you for uh mentioning that. Um I have those trophies in a very special place. I'll bet you I think that's just give you all the this uh energy and the strength to dream big, you know. Say I I want to be a professional, I want to get to the top, you know, it's just something, it's a part uh of your career that when I see players that they turn professional a little bit early, you know, too young, or they decide that they don't want to go to college, in my head it really gives me gives me a pain because going to college is the best experience ever. You know, you learn so much, you mature so much, inside and outside the golf course, uh playing for the team, you know, dealing with all this traveling and expenses and you know, the the uniform, you know, that you need to be there 100% and be very proud. And it's just a beautiful experience. I do not understand how it sometimes they jump, you know, not going to college. But I respect, and that's the way it is. I wish, you know, for everybody just to go to college because it's a beautiful experience.

Mike Gonzalez 16:54

Yeah. Well, I know how much everybody enjoys talking about their first professional win. But before we do, I'll have Bruce, I'll have Bruce for our listeners recap just some of the highlights of your career and your accomplishments. It would probably take a half an hour unless he really skimmed through it, Bruce, but uh I'm sure you'll do your best.

Bruce Devlin 17:13

Oh yeah. Well, as I mentioned right up front when we started today, uh two major championships. Uh the Women's British Open in 2007 and the what what I remember as the Dinosure. Uh because I did the TV there for the Dinosure a couple of times. That was in 2008 when you won what is now called the Chevron. Uh 28 other victories, uh three on the uh what what would you call it? The um I forget what they call it. Futures tour, Epstein Tour. And then uh 27 on the LPGA. Uh Mike Mike actually came up with a stat. He told me earlier today before we got started that and you probably don't even realize this, Lorena, but your average win victory by strokes was 3.74 strokes. So if you look at all your victories and average them out, you won by 3.74 strokes.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

Wow.

Bruce Devlin 18:22

Wow.

Mike Gonzalez 18:23

Wow. Now that may not seem like you.

Lorena Ochoa 18:28

Wow.

Mike Gonzalez 18:28

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know to you if if that seems like a big deal, but but believe me. We've talked to a hundred of the greatest players that have ever played, including Nicholas Watson, Crenshaw, Sorenstom, Whitworth, you name it. Only five of your 27 LPGA wins were by one stroke or less, meaning being in a playoff, right? Yeah. Um and the average win margins uh of across those 27 wins, 3.74. I'll go back and look at some of the others, but I would almost guarantee everyone that this will be the best that we'll see of anybody. I went back and looked at Annika's 72 wins. 27 of those were by one stroke or less. I'm sure her average would be less than that. I mean, I just saw some very, very dominating wins across your career. Yeah.

Lorena Ochoa 19:18

Thank you. Well, that's very nice to know. Thank you.

Mike Gonzalez 19:22

Yeah, well, you can use that in your next in your next uh speech.

Lorena Ochoa 19:25

It is right. I'm not about numbers, but that one I'm gonna keep it with me.

Mike Gonzalez 19:31

Yeah, 3.74, right that down. Uh but Bruce, I mean, uh, top-ranked female golfer, as you mentioned, for 158 straight weeks. She was the futures tour rookie of the year in 2002, uh, player of the year in 2002, LPGA Rookie of the Year in 2003, player of the year four straight years on the LPGA, and and the Vare trophy winner those same four years, four years in a row, uh, led the money three years in a row. Heather Farr Player Award in 2007. She won the Bob Jones Award from the USGA in 2011. That's just sort of scratching the surface.

Bruce Devlin 20:11

And she was honored with the uh uh induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, uh, I believe in 2017, correct?

Mike Gonzalez 20:19

That's yeah, and we'll talk about that uh sort of as we wrap up because I'm sure that's a special memory. But let's get to win number one, which I think was on that futures slash Epsom tour 2002. We're talking about the JWA Michelobe Light Futures Charity Golf Classic by four over Amy Dahl. What do you remember about that one?

Lorena Ochoa 20:42

I um you know, I it's just thought the the the adrenaline, it's almost like you because we we dream all the time and you see yourself, you know, walking there the 18th February, holding your trophy, you know, and when it happens, it's just um it's amazing. It's very difficult to put on words because every tournament means uh something different, you know. Some of them are easy, you know, some of them are because maybe somebody else made a mistake, so then you just feel you know um unbeatable and you just come and like go, go, go. And um that that tournament, because it was my first one, you know, I was just trying to have this um distance, but just to enjoy, you know, and really uh enjoy that walk on the 18th Fairway. I remember seeing my father and my brother because they were there uh for me. Um, you know, we did the whole the future tour together. And it's almost like, you know, like yes, I mean this is happening and I'm ready, you know. I'm professional and this is my first trophy, you know, hopefully of many. And it was a beautiful memory. Thank you for bringing that up. Um, yes, I'm never gonna forget that one. Probably the second one, it was more difficult because you know they always say that the second one is more difficult. Yeah, that's right.

Mike Gonzalez 22:05

You gotta you gotta validate that first one, don't you? But it was only it was only two weeks later.

Lorena Ochoa 22:12

Well, remember I I played that uh summer just every week. Um, and I knew it was a challenge for me because playing only half of the season, I needed to do twice you know, as good as the other players to be able to get in that top three, because only the top three from the future store will qualify for the LPJ. Uh so yes, I was on a go.

Mike Gonzalez 22:35

Well, the the second one was by one, so that was one of your five close ones, and that was over Christina Kim. But let's come back to that first win. You you win by four, so unless there was water or OB on the last, it was probably a pretty comfortable walk down that fairway.

Lorena Ochoa 22:53

Yes. Well, now that you mentioned the 3.7 strokes, you know, I feel better, you know.

Mike Gonzalez 23:00

Yeah, you beat your average, your first win.

Lorena Ochoa 23:03

No, and and I really uh I mean, I'm I'm trying to put myself in that, but I don't really remember the walk. I remember being on the on the 18 green when they call your name, you know. Um I guess we all remember, you know, diff different little things. Um I mean, I'm only 43, but it did happen a few years back.

Mike Gonzalez 23:23

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, well, let me let me ask you this. Uh uh, you brought it up about you know coming down the stretch and thinking about holding the trophy and so forth. Can you remember a time in your your career where those thoughts started creeping in perhaps a little too early in the last round? You mean like when I didn't feel comfortable when I was um Well, when when when you started thinking about winning and you hadn't gotten the job done yet.

Lorena Ochoa 23:48

Yes, yes. You know, um I can only remember, not only, I mean, not in that first win, but the times I was probably leading from the 16 or in the 17 or in the 18th, and I made a few mistakes. Um I remember that I probably, you know, went ahead um, you know, myself about the thinking about that the beautiful ceremony on the 18 green. Uh not during that time because I was I was just very professional, you know, on having my routine and being in a bubble and feeling comfortable, and I I didn't let any you know thoughts or bad thoughts, you know, getting into my head. I was very uh just easy, you know, very practical just on getting behind the ball, seep, you know. When you are able to visualize and when you are able just to, it's almost a feeling that the it's it's very difficult to describe, but it's just it happens, you know, naturally. You don't need it's effortless, you know. You feel so comfortable, you know, you're feeling in connection, uh unbeatable. You feel you know that you are there and just in a bubble, like I said before, and you and you just strike the ball and see a beautiful result. And and there are other times where those things they they just don't happen naturally, you know. But that one was a good one for me.

Mike Gonzalez 25:17

Yeah, we've talked to a lot of people though about you know that little person that's sitting on your shoulder whispering in your ear, and some people are able to shut that up pretty well, and there are times when that's difficult.

Lorena Ochoa 25:26

Yes, it's okay. I mean, it's part of the game. Uh, we're humans, like I said before, and you're going to make mistakes, and you need to allow those mistakes because it's part of life. And uh you cannot be there 100% and just win all of them. So just you know, I always I rule in in, you know, it was before in golf, now it's in my life, and uh I'm easy in that way that I just accept um, you know, those mistakes and and just learn and let them go. Um and I analyze really quickly to see how can I be a better player, you know, a better person, how can I get stronger, and um and that's it. It's as simple as that. Because if you get more frustration and you feel bad and you have this head, you know, talk in your head that all the time you made a mistake and it's unacceptable, that's why you don't win. And if you have that bad talk, it's impossible. Imagine how tired will be life. So it's something that you need to learn to do. And uh, I was able to do that early in my career, and I think it makes things uh easier, lighter, more enjoyable.

Mike Gonzalez 26:36

Yeah, so so what you just covered, that that may be a partial answer to the question I'm gonna ask. And and uh while we'll still talk a lot about the rest of your career and your accomplishments, maybe appropriate to ask you now. Um with the benefit of hindsight, you've now had a few years of perspective to look back on your accomplishments. What was it that made Loreno Choa so special and a cut above most other professionals that ever played the game?

Lorena Ochoa 27:06

Well, that's probably a question, not for me, because I think it's you know the way people see you. But uh, if I'm gonna talk about uh myself, that the things that I did a little bit different, probably. Number one is I was the same inside and outside the golf course. Uh I was you know easy, I was uh happy, I have this uh energy that I will just uh show up and say hi to everybody and have a little talk. And even with Annika when she was you know at the top and was my rival. And then I believe when you just show up at the first tea, you know, you you want to beat each other, yes, and we are very, you know, the competition is is is the number one thing. But I was I I that's the way, you know, I I live uh you know my years on tour um with this um the same way, you know, and um once I I was inside I was very very competitive. Uh I I respect a lot uh a lot of players, you know. I used to just watch them and learn from them. Um not only one player, you know, I like this player, the way she practices the short game, this player, the you know, the potting or the lag pots or uh going outside to the golf course and do the practice uh maybe on a Tuesday or on a Wednesday in a different way, you know. And I used to learn all the time working and just have this the ability to do different shots, uh, working with your imagination, trying to do other things and practice, practice the hard things all the time, not only in the middle of the fairway and getting a seminar on the green, but always trying to push myself with different shots. Um I I also watch other players, and and I that's that's how I choose who I didn't want it to be. I think you need to see a little bit of everything. But the most important thing was just to have a lot of respect for everybody. You know, first gain that respect uh back by playing good. I think uh you need to show that with your results, just get there, you know, and be nice uh, you know, with the rest of your friends, of the players. Um get a good practice, you know, and and smile. And then at the golf course, uh my key was um I was I was not afraid. Since I was uh there my first few years, I was very aggressive. I was always trying to go low. Uh yes, I made mistakes that probably you know I regret, or people would say something bad about me, but I was trying all the time, you know. Rafa always told me, just go low, you know, prove yourself that you could, you know, should they, you know, 28, 29, 62, 63, and I love that. I love that. Um and then I was very good about analyzing. I was very good about analyzing. I finished my my my golf round and I was able to tell if it was a technique uh problem or how many problems, you know, to one, two mistakes, or if it was a strategical, like with my with my caddy. You know, it was a mental part that I didn't feel comfortable, that I was anxious over the ball. And every time before um after a round, before going to the range, to the practice range, and have this probably bad talk in your head, that feeling frustration, feeling angry, that you left out there two shots and you get to the range and hit balls and hit balls and hit balls. I was not the kind of player. I will first analyze, and if it was something that I didn't feel comfortable over the ball, visualizing a shot, I would call my my sports psychology and say, I don't feel comfortable, give me two, three visualization uh techniques, you know, going through a meditation with me. And they will say, just go to the range, hit the 10 drivers, feel happy, and go and have a nice meal, you know. And I was always, always uh very good about analyzing. I never generalized a bad day and being angry or frustrated or you know, or having that that bad uh talk, you know, with me. Um that that's the way I I you know uh lived my my career and and I enjoy I enjoy everything. After my first year, I almost wanted to quit. I said, but this is too difficult. I don't like this life. It's a lot of it's uh you are lonely, a lot of pressure, a lot of activities outside the golf course because being a profession is not only about playing golf. And all of those different challenges, it was it was too much for me. I was exhausted mentally. More than physically, I was exhausted mentally. And then I decided, okay, if this is what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna do it for a short period of time. That's why I decided to play around 10 years. And I'm gonna do 100%, but I'm gonna create my own uh formula, which I'm not gonna play 33 events, I'm not going to travel to Asia six times a year, I'm not going to do 30 days for my sponsors. I'm going to do it my way, and I'm going to do it a little bit easier. And I'm going to do it just to making sure that I was happy, you know, with my life, you know, that I could handle just everything. And be always very professional outside the golf course, helping the tour, helping the sponsors, helping the activities. And and I make some adjustments and and I was able to enjoy and to be there 100%.

SPEAKER_01 32:38

Yeah.

Mike Gonzalez 32:39

You mentioned a few things uh as you talked about learning through observation, uh wanting to emulate certain aspects of certain people's games. Can you put some names on some of those things as you think about, you know, did you did you did you really like the way this person lag putted or the way this person pitched the ball? Or who were some of the ones you would watch on the range and maybe try to emulate?

Lorena Ochoa 33:02

Yes. Well, many of them. I think it would be unfair to mention two uh names, you know.

Mike Gonzalez 33:07

Oh, they they'd love to do that.

Lorena Ochoa 33:08

And leaving all of them uh out, but it's part of it's actually part of the deal because you need to learn to admire the players, the people next to you. You know, and that's why when they told me, okay, you know, if you have to mention one name, I mean, of course, Annika is at the top because she was from outside, you know, an international player. She went to college to the United States State and play in the University of Arizona like I did. I wanted to be like her, so I'm gonna arrive there, I'm gonna play there, I'm gonna practice, get better, and then like here I'm gonna turn professional, and like here I want to be the best player in the world. So um, you know, um, of course, you know, and then Julie Inkster and Betsy King, Meg Mallon, those three players are older, you know, and and they were, I don't know if like my mother or like my aunt or like my you know, I I I always love them. Just go there and give them a book and say, you know, ask for help. Like uh yes, I have the best memories. I traveled a lot with Betsy King. Um and uh just I mean, wow, beautiful, the so many good memories, and she helped me a lot. And uh she helped me to to find peace with me, with the life, with the with the stress, you know, being a professional. Just I have so many, so many beautiful stories.

Mike Gonzalez 34:32

Yeah, well, and as you you know, uh it took her a while to learn to win on the tour, didn't it?

Lorena Ochoa 34:37

Yes, yes. Well, I you know, also she started playing so I mean a little bit older than us, all of us. So, you know, by the time you get mature, by the time you feel comfortable, and um everybody they have different rhythm, you know, in in that way.

Mike Gonzalez 34:53

Thank you for listening to another episode of For the Good of the Game. And please, wherever you listen to your podcast on Apple and Spotify, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, spread the word, and tell your friends until we tee it up again for the good of the game. So long, everybody.

Intro Music 35:18

It went smacked down the flow.