How Do You Top This?
I was reading (almost ad nauseam) the accolades bestowed upon Tiger for winning the A.P. Athlete of the Year and it got me thinking about not only his great year, but Lorena Ochoa’s year as well. How do they top their great year’s of 2006? Or can they? In Tiger’s case, literally anything is possible with him. He could run the table and walk away with another Tiger Slam, or he could struggle this year and not win any majors (doubtful). Regardless, Tiger has the set the bar high again and the expectations from fans and media alike are going to be very high, almost unrealistic in my opinion. Except for winning all four majors in 2007, how could he improve?
Some have implied that Ochoa’s year, while not a fluke, was certainly not repeatable. I vehemently disagree. Ochoa might not win as many tournaments in 2007, but I think she’ll be more of a factor in the majors, and in fact, she should win at least one before the year ends. Does she have any weaknesses? Of course. I think her head movement while she putts is a major issue that she needs to resolve. And she still needs to be conscious of getting loose at the top of her backswing. Something she finally conquered in 2006, but there are times when you can see the club waggling a little at the top. However, I still think she’ll have another great year.