Lorena Ochoa- Corning

[Elf]

Gxer: Last time I wrote about your posts being intelligent, knowledgeable and informative, I got a severe reprimand from many posters. I guess you are not the most popular writer in my.LPGA (none of my business), but I enjoy and learn from your posts.
Your question to Sophie about Lorena missing the Corning event was very good and informative. Her answer:
"Just because she missed it doesn't mean she will get fined. Every player get ONE EXEMPTION during her career. I don't think Lorena has taken hers so this is probably it.
If she misses Corning again next year, she will get fined. But I did read in GolfWeek a month or so ago that she wouldn't hesitate paying it.
Ty just said he read in USA Today that she is going to pay the fine... I guess she is... maybe she doesn't know about the one time exemption or is choosing just not to use it..
I don't know anyone else that has been fined but then again, we are not told if someone gets fined."
In some of my previous posts. I have stated that Lorena is dedicated and concentrating in being the Number One in Golf. She does take too many breaks, supposedly to rest and be with her family (none of my business). But her scheduling, untimely breaks, and other matters such as the above have to do with her manager. Her manager and also her brother is to blame for tens of mistakes in her organization (it is hard to prove when the subject is number one in her profession), but paying a fine for missing an event is inadmissible. I doubt Lorena will fire him, but if she had any business sense, she could hire a professional manager and rake in millions of US Dollars. Instead her money is going in promoting lesser events in Mexico and golfers such as Sofia Sheridan, and advertisement that offend the Mexican public. His brother is making money but Lorena is not gaining the recognition she deserves.
Btw. In one of the events in Mexico, where all the media, sponsors and VIPs were present and wanting special attention; Lorena had to handle everyone because her brother/manager decided to go and watch Tiger Woods play golf in the USA. Lorena, not only had to concentrate in GOLF but in public relations and other matters while little brother/manager had a week off.

[Putter]

Elf, you probably know more about the brother than I do, but I agree, he doesn't seem to be doing much to earn his paycheck. I've always said that 9 times out of 10 hiring a family member is a mistake. Lorena seems to be very big on "family" and maybe she just can't see what the problem is. This family thing seems to happen a lot on the LPGA - husbands/boyfriends/fathers & brothers as caddies or managers, and it's got to cause some friction. I wonder how the Sorenstam sisters handle it?

[MarinePaul]

Putter, I think the Sorenstams are in a different situation, since they're rivals, at least on the course. I agree that employing family usually isn't a good idea, but, like you, don't really know much about Lorena's brother. I'll take Elf's word for it.

[Elf]

Originally Posted by Putter

Elf, you probably know more about the brother than I do, but I agree, he doesn't seem to be doing much to earn his paycheck. I've always said that 9 times out of 10 hiring a family member is a mistake. Lorena seems to be very big on "family" and maybe she just can't see what the problem is. This family thing seems to happen a lot on the LPGA - husbands/boyfriends/fathers & brothers as caddies or managers, and it's got to cause some friction. I wonder how the Sorenstam sisters handle it?

Putter: It is hard to make a definite answer. Take Michelle Wie, in my opinion her father and associates ruined her golfing career, but made millions, which I hope Michelle will get some of it. In the case of Lorena is the same way. Maybe it is better, as in the case of MW and Lorena, that the family member cheats the player than a third party (at least some of the money stays in the family). In the case of Lorena, she got rid of his brother as a caddy and continues to be a great player but wastes money in her brother business; Michelle has bigger problems, her family and associates are now millionaires but ruined one of the potential greatest golfing sagas ever.

[Putter]

MP, I think the Sorenstam sisters are probably equally as passionate about the Academy, so it's not like CStam is trying to make a killing at the sake of Annika.

Elf, have to agree with you about the "Wie Team" - I've never really understood how any good could come out of having daddy as a manager, coach, caddy and know-it-all would do her any good. I knew they were in trouble when mom became her putting coach. I realize her mother is a respectable golfer, but all this family involvement can do nothing to further her career if she's being pushed to the limit for the sake of the "family name."

I forgot about Granada and her mother/caddy - although, having met both of them at the Canadian last year, it's obvious that Julietta calls the shots and mom just goes along with it.

Lorena may want to take a step back and see exactly what's going on - dismiss the "family ties" aspect and look at it like a business.

[Shampi]

Hey kidos... Alejandro (Lorena's brother) has nothing to do with her schedule... TRUE: he is her manager but he only manages sponsors, outings and that kind of stuff... Lorena's schedule and the logistic are run by her PR person... who is a nice 28 year old girl... but still needs to learn some stuff...

Elf might remember that ALL mexican newspapers criticized her when the tour was in Mexico for the MasterCard Classic... she went nuts with the media arguing that photographers and press members distracted Lorena and that the gallery wasn't behaving....

[Elf]

Shampi: Will never argue with you about Golf, specially about LPGA Golf in Mexico; you are probably the most knowledgeable expert about that topic in the world. Yet.... I still believe his brother/manager is a negative factor in her career, placing his personal interest above Lorena, who earns the $$$$. I will never understand how he skipped a Mexican event. He was supposed to pick an award in the USA for Lorena on Tuesday of the Morelia event. So he took the whole week off!!!!! But I will bet you that he will not miss the events in Europe where he is really not needed but gets a free trip to Europe.

[Shampi]

TRUE: he skipped the event but it's not like he needs to be there to make it happen... Actually, when he's around, he just walks the course with his wife or his family, media, schedule and logistic affairs are handled by Lorena's PR staff. I'm not saying he isn't doing his job, its just that Alejandro delegates and he's makes all the deals with sponsors and bussiness men...

He won't skip the WBO and the Evian... because he's from the family and the only thing he will do regarding media stuff will be talking and cordinating interviews with the LPGA staff... honestly he doesn't need anything else... the LPGA manages that part (if the player is currently playing an event)... even wehn your manager is around... I experienced that with Paula Creamer 2 years ago at the Corona Championship, with Lorena last year at the WBO and this year with Erica Blasberg at the MasterCard Classic...

Have a nice day!

[NTB]

Hey Shampi Do these girls really need all this help in their lives.
Seems only a few make that kind of money.
Great information.
Maybe you can keep us informed Bivens sure doesn't

[Shampi]

Hi there NTB... well it's not that they NEED this help... but I'm sure they are grateful to have it. I had a chance to interview Erica Basberg at this year's MasterCard Classic, we were planning to have it in one of this 2008 covers, so we had a photo shoot and a 20 minute interview. Erica was great, so as her father and they said they didn't have a problem to spend as many time as we needed. Nevertheless, the LPGA set a period of time for us to get it done, Ashley Cushman was there and she was asking questions about our schedule and the logistics (since we needed to change locations) I must punctuate that she was very nice and she didn't rushed us. But having LPGA members around make players comfortable, whe ever they have a doubt or something it's easier for them to tell the LPGA member in charge and then he/she will ask us... this is especially useful when they are having a shoot or interview with foreing media.

So once again I think it's useful, still I really don't thinkthey need it, well maybe Annika S?renstam, Lorena Ochoa and other big names might find it amazing since everybody wants a piece of them, but for "new" players I guess it's just kind of giving them the same treat and not making differences. Besides, they are not as used to photos and questions as other players...