Ochoa will be going for her third straight major at the LPGA Championship the first week of June. Pat Bradley in 1986 was the last woman to win three straight majors, while Woods is the only professional — male or female — to capture four in a row.
What can stop her?
"I'd like to believe nothing and nobody," Ochoa said after winning the Nabisco. "I know this is just the beginning of the year. I know I put some high goals this year, but I want to try to keep going."
It was only three years ago that similar comparisons were made between Woods and Sorenstam, who dominated women's golf for five years. Sorenstam won six of her first eight tournaments in 2005, including the first two majors, by wearing down the field with her consistent, precise, robotic play.
Ochoa brings far more sizzle, not to mention power, and it shows in how badly she is crushing her competition. Ochoa twice has won tournaments by 11 shots this year.
At the Safeway International outside Phoenix, the strongest field in women's golf, she won by seven strokes.
"Everything that she's done this year has been phenomenal," Brittany Lincicome said.
Even more remarkable is a graciousness rarely found in an athlete so ruthless.
Ochoa is proud of her heritage and her people, and often goes to the maintenance barn at golf tournaments to visit with the grounds crew, most of whom are Latino. She spent a half-hour with them at the Kraft Nabisco in Palm Desert, Calif., helping them cook breakfast, talking soccer and thanking them for their work.
When she closed out last season with a $1 million payday, Ochoa pledged $100,000 for flood victims in Mexico and set aside a large amount to help build schools for needy children in her town.
LPGA officials still rave about last year at the Ginn Tribute, which honored the women who founded the LPGA Tour in 1950. Some of the founders asked for Ochoa's autograph, and only after signing did she go back and ask for theirs. She also had her picture taken with them.
"To keep for memories," Ochoa said.
No doubt, she will treasure it along with the photo with Woods, both in their own way reminding her of an amazing journey.
