#1 Female Golfer Lorena Ochoa announces her retirement
 |
Bill Jempty | Tuesday, April 20, 2010 |
This news is just stunning.
Lorena Ochoa, the world’s top-ranked women’s golfer, announced her retirement Tuesday.
Ochoa, 28, confirmed the news in a statement released by her management company, Ochoa Group. A news conference is scheduled for Friday in Mexico City.
“Lorena Ochoa confirms her retirement from the LPGA, as news reports in some media have said today,†her statement said. “The reasons and more details on the matter will be given by Lorena personally in a press conference on Friday in Mexico City. Lorena will share this news of a new stage in her life with her sponsors, family members and friends.â€
*****
She has 27 career titles, including two majors (2007 Women’s British Open, 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship) and has $14.2 million in career earnings.
Ochoa married Andres Conesa, the director general of Aeromexico airline, one of her sponsors, last year.
A Mexican newspaper, citing an unidentified source, says Ochoa could come back later. That isn’t consistent with the word ‘retirement’ used in her statement. I guess we have to wait till Friday’s press conference to know what Lorena means.
Ochoa’s retirement is a stunner because of its timing. She needs to play the LPGA till 2012 to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. Her points total already qualifies her, but a player must play the tour for 10 years also and Ochoa was a rookie in 2003.
Some other random comments
Ochoa has always come off as a class act. Former #1 Annika Sorenstam frequently came off as arrogant to me, and Ochoa never did. I did have the pleasure of blogging Ochoa’s win at the 2007 ADT Championship and was in press conferences with her.
While Ochoa won player of the year in 2009, it was by only one point. Her play was not anywhere near the level it was in 2007 and early 2008.
The current Rolex Rankings
1 Ochoa 9.25
2 Jiyai Shin 8.76
3 Yani Tseng 8.67
4 Suzann Pettersen 8.38
5 Ai Miyazato 8.12
1st to 5th place is only separated by 1.12 points. In a few weeks an Asian born golfer is going to rise to #1 player in the world.
Also commenting- Hound Dog, Stephanie Wei,
- Lorena Ochoa wins Honda LPGA Thailand
- Oh so close- Lorena Ochoa edges Jiyai Shin for LPGA Player of the Year
- Lorena Ochoa now ranked #1 in women’s golf
- It certainly took long enough
- The 2010 LPGA Schedule is out
- 2010 LPGA Tour preview
- Bo Bae Song wins the Mizuno Classic
- Ai Miyazato wins the Tres Marias Championship
- The ADT Championship begins in two days
- Lorena Ochoa Wins Navistar LPGA Classic
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
Comments are Closed
