Ochoa, Lorena << oh CHOH ah, law RAY nah >> (1981-…), a Mexican golfer, became one of the leading players on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. Ochoa was named the Player of the Year in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. She was the first person other than Annika Sorenstam of Sweden and Karrie Webb of Australia to win the Player of the Year award since 1996. Ochoa’s success made her a sports hero in Mexico.
During 2006, Ochoa led the LPGA tour with six tournament victories. She also finished second six times. In 2006, 2007, and 2008, Ochoa earned more prize money than any other woman on the tour and also won the Vare Trophy, awarded to the golfer with the lowest scoring average. She also won the Vare Trophy in 2009. In 2007, Ochoa won the Women’s British Open, becoming the first Mexican-born player to win a major championship on the LPGA tour. She won her second major championship, the Kraft Nabisco (now called the Chevron Championship) title, in 2008.
Ochoa was born on Nov. 15, 1981, in Guadalajara, Mexico. She began playing golf at the age of 5. Ochoa was a star player at the University of Arizona in 2001 and 2002. She won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Player of the Year award in both years. In 2003, Ochoa won the Nancy Lopez Award, given to the best female amateur golfer from the previous year. Ochoa turned professional in 2002 and was named Rookie of the Year on the LPGA tour in 2003. In 2004, she became the first Mexican-born player to win a tournament on the LPGA tour. In 2010, Ochoa announced she was retiring from competitive golf. She ended her career with 27 LPGA tournament victories. In 2022, Ochoa was inducted into the LPGA’s Hall of Fame.
