Between them, no victories for the first time since Sorenstam's rookie season, 1994. Now stuck on 69 career victories, Annika admits that chasing Whitworth's record is too "abstract" a goal. Meanwhile, Ochoa went from chasing down Sorenstam to barely staying ahead of Pettersen. Between then, they had 12 victories and two majors, perhaps starting the next rivalry.
Ochoa turns 26 on Thursday and celebrated with her family at a private dinner on Wednesday in Palm Beach. She still considers herself one of the kids and is already looking to next season in anticipation of the battles with the revitalized Webb and Sorenstam, not to mention the suddenly confident Pettersen. "She likes to win," Ochoa said of Sorenstam. "so it's not going to be easy next year, [but I'm] not only talking about her or Suzann or Karrie or different players, but I'm really excited to see just how much we're pushing ourselves..."
Creamer is talking about wanting No. 1. So is Pettersen, who said, "I don't think [my desire to be No. 1] has intensified. I think it has just made me realize that I can do it. I mean, you play well, you win tournaments, you get a lot of confidence. I think it's going to be a while before I can -- before any of us are going to catch Lorena, but we have to start somewhere."
That somewhere is this week at Trump, where $1 million goes to the winner. Ochoa knows it would push her over $4 million for the season and give her one more win than Tiger Woods. This is the kid that Webb and Sorenstam is chasing.
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