Ochoa quits at top of her game
Source: Agencies |
April 22, 2010, Thursday
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LORENA Ochoa's surprise decision to quit the women's professional golf tour at the top of her game marks a premature end to the spectacular career of a woman who brought legions of new fans to the sport.
The 28-year-old Mexican not only established herself as the game's most dominant player but she helped push women's golf into the spotlight in a country absorbed by men's soccer. Since her rookie year in 2003, Ochoa managed to replace Annika Sorenstam as world No. 1 in April 2007 and capture 27 LPGA Tour titles including two majors.
A Mexican newspaper first reported Ochoa's retirement but the golfer has since confirmed the news on her official Website ahead of a scheduled news conference on Friday.
The Guadalajara native, arguably the most likeable player in the game, has always credited her family, coach and friends as the most significant factors in influencing her career.
At the Kia Classic in March, Ochoa told reporters: "What is important is that right now golf is my priority, and I'm trying to do my best. But I don't want to be playing and have kids at the same time, so when it's time to think about a family I will finish with my golf. I'll let you know."
Talk of Ochoa's retirement has been a hot topic since she married the chief executive of a Mexican airline in December.
Sorenstam, who retired in 2008 after dominating women's golf for more than 10 years, said she felt Ochoa was ready to begin the next chapter in her life after accomplishing so much in a short period of time.
"I understand completely what she is going through because I have just gone through this myself," the 39-year-old Sorenstam, wrote on her blog.
"Though I was older than Lorena, it is still hard to play and play at the level you demand of yourself when your heart and mind are somewhere else."
The LPGA said it would not make any comment until after her conference on Friday.
Ochoa was defined as much by her dominance as her graciousness. Mindful of her roots, she often would go to the maintenance barn during LPGA Tour events and speak with the workers, many of them from Mexico.
She won six times in 2006, rose to No. 1 in 2007 and captured her first major at St Andrews the same year by winning the Women's British Open. Ochoa's other major was the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship, where she took the traditional jump into the pond with her family as a mariachi band serenaded her.
She won her fourth consecutive LPGA Tour player of the year award in 2009, narrowly holding off Shin Jiyai. Ochoa played four times this year, with her best finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship when she finished fourth.
Shin of South Korea is No. 2 in the rankings and Yani Tseng of Chinese Taipei, this year's Kraft Nabisco winner, is No. 3. Both are in position to fill the void left by Ochoa.
Sorenstam said she is happy for Ochoa, although acknowledging the LPGA will "certainly miss her great play, warm demeanor and smile."
"The most rewarding days are ahead of her, and I wish her all the best," she said.
The 28-year-old Mexican not only established herself as the game's most dominant player but she helped push women's golf into the spotlight in a country absorbed by men's soccer. Since her rookie year in 2003, Ochoa managed to replace Annika Sorenstam as world No. 1 in April 2007 and capture 27 LPGA Tour titles including two majors.
A Mexican newspaper first reported Ochoa's retirement but the golfer has since confirmed the news on her official Website ahead of a scheduled news conference on Friday.
The Guadalajara native, arguably the most likeable player in the game, has always credited her family, coach and friends as the most significant factors in influencing her career.
At the Kia Classic in March, Ochoa told reporters: "What is important is that right now golf is my priority, and I'm trying to do my best. But I don't want to be playing and have kids at the same time, so when it's time to think about a family I will finish with my golf. I'll let you know."
Talk of Ochoa's retirement has been a hot topic since she married the chief executive of a Mexican airline in December.
Sorenstam, who retired in 2008 after dominating women's golf for more than 10 years, said she felt Ochoa was ready to begin the next chapter in her life after accomplishing so much in a short period of time.
"I understand completely what she is going through because I have just gone through this myself," the 39-year-old Sorenstam, wrote on her blog.
"Though I was older than Lorena, it is still hard to play and play at the level you demand of yourself when your heart and mind are somewhere else."
The LPGA said it would not make any comment until after her conference on Friday.
Ochoa was defined as much by her dominance as her graciousness. Mindful of her roots, she often would go to the maintenance barn during LPGA Tour events and speak with the workers, many of them from Mexico.
She won six times in 2006, rose to No. 1 in 2007 and captured her first major at St Andrews the same year by winning the Women's British Open. Ochoa's other major was the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship, where she took the traditional jump into the pond with her family as a mariachi band serenaded her.
She won her fourth consecutive LPGA Tour player of the year award in 2009, narrowly holding off Shin Jiyai. Ochoa played four times this year, with her best finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship when she finished fourth.
Shin of South Korea is No. 2 in the rankings and Yani Tseng of Chinese Taipei, this year's Kraft Nabisco winner, is No. 3. Both are in position to fill the void left by Ochoa.
Sorenstam said she is happy for Ochoa, although acknowledging the LPGA will "certainly miss her great play, warm demeanor and smile."
"The most rewarding days are ahead of her, and I wish her all the best," she said.
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