New Logo, New Rivalry?

Lorena Ochoa and Suzann Pettersen went to a playoff to determine the winner of the Longs Drugs Challenge. They might be getting around to showing the tape of it now on TGC. But, anyway, I digress. On the second hole of the playoff, Pettersen bettered Ochoa and picked up her third win of the 2007 LPGA Tour season. This is the first time in about two months that a player legitimately stood up to Ochoa and her string of dominant performances. (Yes, I know Maria Hjorth won last week against Ochoa on Sunday, but c'mon.)

Of course, the media that covers the LPGA Tour would be quick to point to this occurrence as perhaps the beginnings of a rivalry of the future for the marketing machine to promote. Who knows if it will turn out that way. After all, Pettersen finally rediscovered her game this season after several seasons of trying to recapture it. On top of that, Pettersen has said that she has more of a passion for nordic sports (skiing) than golf (her profession). Add to that, coming into this week Ochoa has more than double the money Pettersen earned. Lorena also averages 1.7 less shots per round compared to Suzann. Really, there is no rivalry.

But, this is the reaction of golf fans when an inkling of a rivalry develops. Golf has been starved for one. On the PGA Tour side, if you win an event with Tiger in the field, the media starts hoping that the guy will become the Woods Foil - as likely as finding the second gunman on the Grassy Knoll. On the LPGA Tour, Ochoa-Sorenstam was a rivalry for about eight months. It was really one sided, though. Then Annika got hurt. And, now she's not taking an exemption at the Samsung (good on her). Basically, it is the opinion of sports fans that each great needs a legit foil to validate their domination. Ochoa may not have that in Suzann, but for one day, someone can dream.