Ochoa star on, off course

Lorena Ochoa is golf’s Joan of Arc, a ferocious warrior who would love to save the world, especially her beloved Mexico.

There she was on Tuesday morning at the Safeway International, visiting with and thanking “my people,’’ who also double as the maintenance crew at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club.

Ricardo Sebastian, one of about 50 such workers, was totally captivated by the moment.

“Some of the guys, they knew nothing about golf or Lorena until she started visiting us,” Sebastian explained. “Now, it’s something that everyone keeps in mind.”

It was just a year ago at the Safeway International that Ochoa introduced herself and then partied with that same largely Hispanic group of workers and their families.

They chanted “Viva Lorena’’ and waved Mexican flags as Ochoa birdied four of the last five holes at Superstition Mountain to win the first of eight LPGA titles on her way to her second straight LPGA player of the year award.

Even though it seems so long ago, Annika Sorenstam was the No. 1 player on the planet at the time. But Sorenstam finished in a tie for eighth — 11 shots back.

A few weeks later, Ochoa snatched the top spot in the world rankings from Sorenstam and has never looked back. But what is somewhat surprising about that turnabout between Ochoa and Sorenstam, the winner of 70 LPGA titles and currently ranked No. 2, is that the gap seems to be widening.

Perhaps it’s the fact that Sorenstam is 37 years old and Ochoa is 26. Or maybe it’s that the Swede underestimated the fire in the eyes of the slightly built, mild-mannered Mexican, who, like Sorenstam, left the University of Arizona following her sophomore season.

How it all shakes out in the next few years between these two former Wildcats will have a lot to do with the LPGA’s popularity. Sure, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Morgan Pressel are the rising stars of women’s golf, but Ochoa vs. Sorenstam is what ultimately will drive the tour.

Some of that was on display earlier this season when Ochoa captured the HSBC Women’s Championship in Singapore by an overwhelming 11 shots. In the aftermath, both players got in their “shots.”

To start, Ochoa, who was making her 2008 debut, stated she had borrowed a page from Tiger Woods, who had a similar blowout win at his season-opening Buick Invitational. Asked if winning by 11 was intended to send a message to the rest of the LPGA, Ochoa said: “Yes, I think yes.’’

Sorenstam, who broke a one-year drought by winning the season-opening SBS Open, was undaunted. Asked if she could overtake Ochoa, she responded: “It’s ... achievable.’’

So it goes as they move on to the next chapter this week. There is talk that Ochoa, with 18 career wins, could become the first woman to make it into the Hall of Fame before she turns 30.

Sorenstam set the standard for being the youngest inductee at age 33.

Neither played particularly well in their last outing. Ochoa got caught up in her emotions and barely finished in the top 10 at the MasterCard Classic in Mexico two weeks ago after opening with a disastrous 76, her worst score in a year. Sorenstam, meanwhile, took Ochoa’s beating in Singapore and then skipped Mexico City.

Chances are Ochoa’s 76 was an aberration, chiefly because she wants to win so badly in her homeland that it gets in her way, and she has admitted as much.

But that’s the dynamic difference between the often emotional Ochoa, a deeply religious caretaker-type, and Sorenstam, a stoic personality who once was called the “Ice Princess.’’

At her home in Guadalajara, Ochoa is as revered as a saint. Her foundation funds a local school for underprivileged elementary children called La Barranca, while currently building a second such facility for high school students.

Ochoa is personally involved with many of the students, as well as their parents.

Such dedication is why Ochoa’s deeds are so well-known, and why last year she was voted in a national poll as “Mexican of the Year,’’ beating out the country’s president, Felipe Calderon.

Ochoa said her values and validation all go back to her tightly knit family, “Who make me feel normal.’’

“Being with my family is No. 1. They make me happy, and I love that feeling,’’ said Ochoa, whose father was a developer and whose mother is an artist.

Ochoa also has two brothers and a sister.

“I also love my country and the people. I guess all (the love) works together,’’ she said.

Ochoa’s connection to her fans is never-ending. Or as golf.com spun it: “Lorena signs more autographs in one week than Tiger Woods signs all year.’’

That certainly was the case on Monday when Ochoa arrived in the Valley. It was her second visit here this year, having spent Super Bowl Sunday being fitted for clubs at the PING plant in northwest Phoenix.

“Lorena is amazing,’’ said Pete Samuels, the marketing director for PING. “When she was here in early February, she wanted to thank everybody but didn’t know it was Super Bowl Sunday, and most of our employees were off that day.

“So the first thing she does this week is return to the plant to say ‘thanks.’ She probably signed her autograph on over 300 photos, and then stuck around and had some Mexican food with us. It was really a great time, and Lorena enjoyed it, too.”

Contact Bill Huffman: (480) 898-6525 or bhuff56765@aol.com

Lorena Ochoa File

Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico
Rookie year: 2003
Status: Exempt
Career victories (last): 18 (2008 HSBC Championship)
Most wins in season: 8 (2007)
Honors: Rolex Player of the Year (2007); Vare Trophy (2007); LPGA Official Money List leader (2007); LPGA Rookie of the Year (2003)
Majors won: 1 (2007 British Open)
Career-low round: 62
Career earnings (rank): $10,764,766 (4)
2008 starts/top 10s: 2/2
Education: University of Arizona

Safeway International

When: Through Sunday
Where: Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, Prospector Course and Lost Gold Course, 8000 East Club Village Drive, Superstition Mountain
Purse: $1,500,000
 

Schedule:

Today — Pro-Am on Prospector Course; Amateur on Lost Gold Course.

Thursday — Safeway International first round on Prospector Course.

Friday — Safeway International second round on Prospector Course. Saturday — Safeway International third round on Prospector Course; SRP Pro-Am on Lost Gold Course.

Sunday — Safeway International final round on Prospector Course; Heather Farr Pro-Am on Lost Gold Course.

Tickets: Good-any-day ticket (admission for one day only) $20; weekly tournament ticket (admission all week) $50; Children (17 and younger) free

TV: The Golf Channel, Thursday through Sunday