Lorena Ochoa closes gap on Jiyai Shin heading into her own Invitational Event;
Shin, the 2009 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, can make history by winning both awards
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8, 2009 - Lorena Ochoa's second-place finish at the Mizuno Classic today has tightened an already close showdown for the coveted 2009 Rolex Player of the Year Award. Ochoa currently trails South Korea's Jiyai Shin by only four points as the two head this week to Mexico to compete in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational by Banamex and Corona Light. The LPGA Tour season will conclude a week later at the LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex at The Houstonian Golf & Country Club.
If Shin holds off Ochoa, the Rolex Player of the Year Award winner the past three seasons, then Shin will be the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and Rolex Player of the Year awards in the same season. Shin secured Rookie of the Year honors last week due to her insurmountable lead over fellow rookies Michelle Wie, Anna Nordqvist and Vicky Hurst.
To see current standings in all LPGA awards and statistical categories, please visit LPGA.com and click on "Stats & News" in the navigational bar.
Mathematically, Shin (147 points) and Ochoa (143 points) are heavy favorites to win this year's Rolex Player of the Year Award, although Cristie Kerr (118 points) puts herself into the picture with a victory. Several other players also still have shots at winning the award, but they would have to not only earn a victory but also finish high in the second event as well. The race will almost certainly come down to the final week in Houston, as even a Shin victory in Mexico wouldn't lock up the title if Ochoa earns four points (7th place) at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
"What a fitting finish to an intriguing LPGA Tour season, with numerous players recording victories and no one single player dominating play," said LPGA Acting Commissioner Marty Evans. "All eyes now turn to how Lorena will respond while playing in her hometown, and if Jiyai has the mental and physical skill to not only hold off three-time Player of the Year Ochoa but also make history in the process."
Shin also has an outside chance to catch Lorena Ochoa in the race for the Vare Trophy for low scoring average. Ochoa (70.22) currently leads Ai Miyazato (70.29) and Shin (70.30) with a maximum of eight rounds remaining for each. Lopez also won the Vare Trophy in her historical 1978 season.
The chart below provides scenarios for players to win the Rolex Player of the Year assuming Jiyai Shin did not score another point over the next two weeks:
Rolex Player of the Year points breakdown
Shin, the 2009 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, can make history by winning both awards
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8, 2009 - Lorena Ochoa's second-place finish at the Mizuno Classic today has tightened an already close showdown for the coveted 2009 Rolex Player of the Year Award. Ochoa currently trails South Korea's Jiyai Shin by only four points as the two head this week to Mexico to compete in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational by Banamex and Corona Light. The LPGA Tour season will conclude a week later at the LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex at The Houstonian Golf & Country Club.
If Shin holds off Ochoa, the Rolex Player of the Year Award winner the past three seasons, then Shin will be the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and Rolex Player of the Year awards in the same season. Shin secured Rookie of the Year honors last week due to her insurmountable lead over fellow rookies Michelle Wie, Anna Nordqvist and Vicky Hurst.
To see current standings in all LPGA awards and statistical categories, please visit LPGA.com and click on "Stats & News" in the navigational bar.
Mathematically, Shin (147 points) and Ochoa (143 points) are heavy favorites to win this year's Rolex Player of the Year Award, although Cristie Kerr (118 points) puts herself into the picture with a victory. Several other players also still have shots at winning the award, but they would have to not only earn a victory but also finish high in the second event as well. The race will almost certainly come down to the final week in Houston, as even a Shin victory in Mexico wouldn't lock up the title if Ochoa earns four points (7th place) at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
"What a fitting finish to an intriguing LPGA Tour season, with numerous players recording victories and no one single player dominating play," said LPGA Acting Commissioner Marty Evans. "All eyes now turn to how Lorena will respond while playing in her hometown, and if Jiyai has the mental and physical skill to not only hold off three-time Player of the Year Ochoa but also make history in the process."
Shin also has an outside chance to catch Lorena Ochoa in the race for the Vare Trophy for low scoring average. Ochoa (70.22) currently leads Ai Miyazato (70.29) and Shin (70.30) with a maximum of eight rounds remaining for each. Lopez also won the Vare Trophy in her historical 1978 season.
The chart below provides scenarios for players to win the Rolex Player of the Year assuming Jiyai Shin did not score another point over the next two weeks:
| Pos | Player | Current points | To overtake Shin's 147 points |
| 1 | Jiyai Shin | 147 | |
| 2 | Lorena Ochoa | 143 | needs a 6th place finish, or five points in two weeks |
| 3 | Cristie Kerr | 118 | needs a win |
| 4 | Ai Miyazato | 111 | needs a win and 4th place finish |
| T5 | Yani Tseng | 110 | needs a win and 3rd place finish |
| T5 | Suzann Pettersen | 110 | needs a win and 3rd place finish |
| 7 | Na Yeon Choi | 106 | needs a win and 2nd place finish |
| 8 | Angela Stanford | 103 | needs to win twice |
Rolex Player of the Year points breakdown
| 1. | 30 |
| 2. | 12 |
| 3. | 9 |
| 4. | 7 |
| 5. | 6 |
| 6. | 5 |
| 7. | 4 |
| 8. | 3 |
| 9. | 2 |
| 10. | 1 |