Lorena Ochoa - Part 3 (Early LPGA Wins)
In this third installment of our four-part series with World Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time major champion Lorena Ochoa, we dive into the defining moments that cemented her legacy as one of the greatest golfers of all time.
Lorena takes us back to her early years on the LPGA Tour, from the challenges of her rookie season to the pivotal mental and physical adjustments that led to her first victories. She shares the pressure of proving herself among the sport’s elite, including Annika Sörenstam, and how she overcame early heartbreaks to emerge as a dominant force.
We revisit her breakthrough win at the 2006 Samsung World Championship, a moment when Lorena finally realized she could beat the best on the biggest stage. She also reflects on her victories in Mexico and the immense pride she felt in bringing the LPGA Tour to her home country, inspiring a new generation of Mexican golfers.
Beyond her on-course triumphs, Lorena opens up about the personal commitments that guided her career, including the early promise she made to herself to step away from the game at her peak and her unwavering dedication to her foundation. She discusses the balance between competition and life outside of golf, the mental toll of professional sports, and the lessons learned from playing alongside legends like Juli Inkster and Betsy King.
Join us for another captivating episode as we explore Lorena Ochoa’s road to dominance, her mindset as a champion, and the sacrifices behind her success, "FORE the Good of the Game."
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About
"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”
Thanks so much for listening!
Ochoa Reyes, Lorena
Golf Professional
Lorena Ochoa Reyes burst on the women’s professional golfing scene in 2002 after enjoying an outstanding junior golfing career with five Junior World Championship titles and an impressive collegiate career, being named NCAA Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
In her first full season on the LPGA Tour she had eight top-10 finishes and finished ninth on the Tour’s money list. She was named Rookie of the Year. Ochoa would go on to win 27 victories on the LPGA Tour, including two Major Championships (Women’s British Open 2007 and the ANA Inspiration in 2008).
Though Ochoa Reyes’ career lasted only seven years, she dominated the women’s tour and was ranked World Number One in the Official World Rankings for 158 consecutive weeks (2007-2010). In a three-year stretch (2006-2008), she won 21 tournaments, including the two Majors and in 2008, she dominated with wins by as many as 11 strokes on more than one occasion.
Ochoa Reyes always knew what she wanted to accomplish and quit the tour on her terms. She retired at the very top of the women’s game. She said that she always felt that she was competing against herself, and not anybody else.
Lorena Ochoa Reyes is the first Mexican-born golfer to find her richly deserved place among the greats of the game in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
