Ochoa named Mexico's 2006 Female Athlete of the Year; Tennessee LPGA event loses sponsor

Tuesday November 28, 2006 | 04:27:21 am 168 words, 3495 views

Lorena Ochoa, the 2006 Rolex Player of the Year, was honored as Mexico’s Female Athlete of the Year yesterday. Mexican President Vicente Fox gave Ochoa and baseball player Vinny Castilla their awards at a ceremony at the presidential residence …

Franklin American Mortgage, the title sponsor of the LPGA Tour event in Tennessee, will not sponsor the tournament next year. For the last three years, the company has sponsored the event at Vanderbilt Legends Club, but it has struggled with attendance and several other factors …

The field is nearly set for the 2006 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship. World number four-ranked player Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Allenby have confirmed their participation in the event, held Dec. 7-10 at the Hyatt Regency Coolum …

USA Today writer Larry Olmsted lauded Brandon Tucker, a writer for GolfEurope.com, in this golf travel column yesterday. Olmsted, who met Tucker on a recent trip to Portugal, praised his decision to move to Europe to cover golf in countries as diverse as Scotland, Portugal and Poland.

4 comments

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Comment from: Mohamed [Visitor]

This is insane, 100 million people with probably 99.99% of the population never play golf or set foot on a golf course. And now they are picking a female golfer to be the athlete of the year? The establishment simply pick someone who is international known rather than someone who is truly representative of the people. No wonder Mexico are full of unhappy people who wants to move to the US.

In comparison, Canada has a population of 30M, they have the MVP of MLB AL, MVP of NBA, and the MVP of NHL.

As for the LPGA in TN, where you have all the Kims, Parks, and Lees winning most of the tournaments, it is not hard to see why the support is dwindling. It is like brinnging Formula One races to the heartland of America.

Permalink 11/28/06 @ 09:20

Comment from: Stacy [Visitor] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/golf-for-beginners

Name another golfer who is more worthy of the title "Athlete of the year" in Mexico. Ochoa warrants this distinction not only in her native country but also on the LPGA Tour.

Ochoa is bringing golf to the average people of Mexico. It may take time but her efforts are truly the beginning of a golf revolution in that country.

Permalink 11/28/06 @ 14:51

Comment from: Mohamed [Visitor]

Stacy,

I think Ochoa is deserving of the POY honor on the LPGA and her achievement is indisputable. However, Golf will never be a grass root sports for the country of Mexico.

Bull figthing, soccer, boxing, baseball, and basketball are much more popular and has mass appeal than golf.

Both Rafael Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera can arguably be the athlete of the year in Mexico for their accomplishment this year.

Permalink 11/28/06 @ 15:09

Comment from: Booger [Visitor]

Who cares what Mexico does?

Permalink 11/28/06 @ 20:51

Dot Wong

a WorldGolf.com Blog

WorldGolf.com blogger Dot Wong keeps golf fans up to date on the latest breaking news reports from the PGA, LPGA and European Tours. Each day Dot scans the leading golf media outlets and she brings you the best stories from around the globe.