Lorena Ochoa’s celebratory pond plunge after winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship was one of many images last week that underscored her growing reputation as the people’s champion.
Moments after clinching her second successive major title on Sunday, the Mexican world number one linked hands with her parents and sister-in-law Paulina before leaping into the lake bordering the 18th green at Mission Hills Country Club.
Within seconds, they were followed into the water by Ochoa’s brother and manager Alejandro, her swing coach Rafael Alarcon and more than 20 other family members and friends.
The crowd crammed around the par-five finishing hole cheered in unison and a Mexican mariachi band fulfilled a promise made earlier in the week by serenading Ochoa with traditional songs.
Although only 26, Ochoa has already established herself as one of the most popular figures in the game and she began her triumphant week at Mission Hills by spending time with the club’s mainly Mexican maintenance crew.
Before Wednesday’s pro-am tournament, she visited them during their breakfast break to chat about soccer and other non-golfing matters and even helped out by cooking their food.
“They are good people who work really hard,” the long-hitting Ochoa told reporters after winning her 20th LPGA title. “I wanted to thank them for their hard work, say how nice it was to see all of them.
“I always joke a little bit about soccer because they don’t like my team. We always get a good laugh… and I helped make scrambled eggs.”
The maintenance crew gave Ochoa an unexpected lift before Thursday’s opening round by installing a banner behind the grandstand on the first tee. The inscription read: “Mission Hills Golf Course Staff Supports Lorena.”
After setting the tone for her triumphant week by firing an opening four-under-par 68, the Guadalajara native said of their gesture: “That was very nice.”
The athletic Mexican has always credited her family, coach and friends as the most significant factors in influencing her golfing career and she continues to feed on their support despite having become world number one a year ago.
She had long cherished the opportunity to jump into Poppies Pond after winning the Championship, emulating a champion’s tradition established by American Amy Alcott 20 years ago.
What the watching gallery did not expect was the sight of Ochoa’s family and friends joining her en masse in the water.
“All are them were my friends and my relatives,” she said. “They are people I have known for many, many years. They live back in Guadalajara and we are almost like a family.
“They have been coming here for eight years, every year, so we promised each other that we would all jump in the lake. I can’t wait to see that on video, and to see it many times.”
Arguably the most likeable player in the game, Ochoa has made a habit of giving back generously to those who have helped her in the past, or to those who need help the most.
Last year, she received the National Sports Award in her native Mexico for the third time since 2001 for her work in promoting golf and also for the charity work conducted by her Lorena Ochoa Foundation.
“Everybody that has been successful understands that giving back is better than winning a tournament,” her long-time swing coach Alarcon said. “I think Lorena is at that stage now.”
