Wisconsin has witnessed two dazzling
professional debuts. After a record-breaking sophomore season at Arizona,
Mexican player Lorena Ochoa decided
to turn pro, and she took her first swing
as a professional golfer on the 10th tee
at Ironwood GC in Sussex on Friday,
May 31, 2002. It was Ochoa’s first start
on the Futures Tour, a developmental
tour now called the Symetra Tour, and
she eventually tied for second place.
Tiger Woods made his professional
debut on Thursday, Aug. 29, 1996, in
the Greater Milwaukee Open at
Brown Deer Park GC. He’s pictured
(inset photo) hitting a drive during the
final round, in which he shot 68 and
moved up to a tie for 60th place.
Ochoa is now retired and raising a
family after a 27-win career in which
she also won two major championships.
Woods won his 72nd PGA Tour title in
March and has compiled 14 major
championships, four short of Jack
Nicklaus’ all-time mark of 18.
