The ladies of the LPGA don their sombreros and fly south of the border for this week’s championship tournament. For the second time this year and only the fourth time ever, the LPGA has chosen a destination in Mexico. Tres Marias Residential Golf Club in Morelia, Mexico, a Jack Nicklaus design, is the site of this $1 million inaugural event and it’s sure to be exciting. Native-born Lorena Ochoa, who carded a 63 mid-round at the Takefuji last week and finished solo second, will be among the competitors along with the event winner, Wendy Ward.
Knowing this course well and having a flurry of family, friends and media attention surrounding Ochoa can do one of two things to the only LPGA player from Mexico: it can raise Lorena’s confidence level or it could put a lot of pressure on her, causing her to choke as she did at both the Mastercard and the Safeway competitions earlier in the season. If last week was any indication of her skill level, she should be able to pull off a win this week.
Continue reading “Corona Morelia Tournament Preview: Viva Mexico!”
The Johnnie Walker Classic will visit mainland China for the first time this week, as Ernie Els and Retief Goosen lead an impressive field.
In the first edition of 
He may not have the most attractive swing or win the ladies over with a long drive, but he gets the job done – almost. Chris DiMarco is like the average person out for a day of golf, but he’s regularly in contention at the majors.
After 
Wendy Ward secured her fourth LPGA victory with a bogey-free round and a final score of 16-under par, finishing just two strokes ahead of Mexican Lorena Ochoa. Confidently aiming for the fairways and pin-hunting, Ward exclaimed, “I’m just tickled about the way I played today.” On the second hole, a 385-yard par 4, Ward took her 58-degree wedge to within three feet. On holes 6, 9, 12, and 16, Wendy played short shots to within ten feet, birdying each time. Wendy’s sport psychologist, Debbie Crews, played a role in helping Wendy’s mental game. She told Crews she was trying as hard as she could, and Crews said, “I want you to quit trying and start believing.”
All the golfers at the MCI Heritage forgot to tell Darren Clarke that the course was playing pretty tough on Friday. He carded six birdies and zero bogeys in the second round to take a six-shot lead into the weekend. His total of 12-under par after two rounds is only one off the record set by Jack Nicklaus in 1975. Clarke attributes his great play at this golf course to just feeling comfortable. “I knew I liked the golf course and that’s why I’ve kept coming back,” he said. “It’s easier to play on a golf course you’re comfortable on than one that you’re not. I’m enjoying myself and playing pretty solid golf.”