Lorena Ochoa Earns Entry Into World Golf Hall of Fame

Something significant happened on the LPGA Tour this past weekend. Something major. But because the LPGA tournament in Mexico wasn't televised, and was going up against The Masters, it tended to get lost in the shuffle.

So let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that Lorena Ochoa is only 26 years old, but has already qualified for the World Golf Hall of Fame via the LPGA points system. Ochoa won the Corona Championship on Sunday, earning her 27th point, which is the number required for LPGA Tour golfers to gain entry to the hall of fame.

Here are how Ochoa's points break down:

• 2 majors = 4 points
• 19 "regular" LPGA Tour wins = 19 points
• 2 Player of the Year awards = 2 points
• 2 scoring titles = 2 points

That's 27 points total, and that means enshrinement into the World Golf Hall of Fame. But Ochoa will have to wait until 2012, because the LPGA's last requirement is that a golfer must have 10 years of service time. Ochoa won't meet that requirement for another four years.

For more on the LPGA points system, see our FAQ, "How do LPGA golfers qualify for the Hall of Fame?"

And if you're thinking the fact that a 26-year-old can qualify for the hall means that the LPGA's qualification criteria are too easy, well, you're wrong. See this analysis.

See also:

• Lorena Ochoa profile
• Lorena Ochoa pictures

(Photo by Patrick Micheletti; used with permission)