Ochoa Makes It Official, Announces Retirement

At a news conference in Mexico City this morning, Lorena Ochoa made official reports from earlier in the week: She's retiring from tournament golf.

But not completely. Ochoa will play the LPGA Tres Marias Championship Morelia, Mexico, next week. She'll also continue to play her own LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara. In that regard, she'll be like Bobby Jones. Jones retired following his Grand Slam year of 1930, but when The Masters began in 1934 Jones, by popular demand, played. He played The Masters through the 1948 tournament, 12 times total.

Here's hoping Ochoa continues to grace us with her presence (I phrase it that way with sincerity - "grace" is an appropriate word to apply to Ochoa) at least once a year for at least the next 12 years, too. (Later in the news conference, the LPGA reported, Ochoa "(left) the door open to play the U.S. Open and Kraft Nabisco Championship.")

In its recap of Ochoa's comments from early in the presser (which is ongoing as I write this), the LPGA quoted her saying:

"This is a very special day, full of happiness. There are so many things that I will miss and this has not been an easy decision to make. But this is my moment and I dreamed of it this way.

"I am leaving the LPGA Tour as the top player, No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, so I am proud of myself and satisfied. I would like to thank so many people who have been by my side all these years, most of all my LPGA partners who welcomed me from my very first day on the Tour. When I started to play golf 23 years ago, I had the dream to become the best player in the world, to win many tournaments and this is why now is the best time to leave, full of great memories that I am going to share with my family for the rest of my life."

Ochoa said she will now focus on family; on her children's educational charity, the Lorena Ochoa Foundation; and on her Lorena Ochoa Golf Academy.

What would you like to say to her? Talk to Lorena