Lorena Ochoa Is Stepping Away from Women's Golf
by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 20, 2010 12:31 PM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintIn what is quite a shocking development this morning, Lorena Ochoa has decided to step away from the LPGA Tour and women's professional golf. A statement from Ochoa was leaked by her management team to the Mexican newspaper Reforma, according to LPGA sources.
We have a copy of the statement as well, which reads in part:
"Lorena Ochoa has confirmed her retirement from the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association), as has been released today in some media quarters. The reasons and more details will be released on Friday at a press conference in Mexico City. ...Lorena gladly will share this news and the next stages of her career accompanied by sponsors, friends and family."
Reforma quoted a source in Ochoa's camp that this announcement was more like "see you later" than "goodbye."
Ochoa has repeatedly said that she would not play professional golf much longer after she was ready to start a family. She was wed to AeroMexico CEO Andres Conesa in December. Speculation is brewing that Ochoa may already be pregnant.
During a February 19, 2010 news conference, Ochoa said she was delaying the start of her family.
"Having kids of my own, I think I still want to wait a little bit. I'm going to keep playing for a few years, and then after that we'll make a decision."
Prior to her relationship and nuptials with Conesa, Ochoa had indicated previously that she did not expect to play longer than ten to twelve years on the LPGA Tour. That would be in 2012, which would give her eligibility into the World Golf Hall of Fame on the LPGA ballot, in combination with her 27 victories. She appears to be foregoing that opportunity to pursue the next stage in her life.
Christina Kim hinted in her new book, Swinging From My Heels, that Ochoa would almost certainly not play past the 2012 season.
At the same news conference in February, Ochoa said that she expected to play between 22 and 23 events this season.
A press conference is scheduled for Friday in which Ochoa will explain her decision and her future plans.
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EVERYbody seems to have a “piece of the statement” but doesn’t seem to read the whole thing. ESPN, LPGA, and PGATour.com’s all have short posts, but none have the same part of the release.
The news all comes from the same source – Reforma.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Well, I was trying to get to the paper’s article (they got a copy of the thing leaked to them this morning). But you gotta pay pesos and I don’t have them :)
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 20, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
just as well – you need a boat load of them to pay for a cup of joe !
how’re your Spanish translation skeelzz ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
They’re good, but not my Mexican newspaper website hacking skillz :)
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 20, 2010 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
It's always good when
the old man is back…
I'll keep an eye out for you...at www.oneeyedgolfer.blogspot.com
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Apr 20, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
groan
Placebos, of course, are things you have to swallow even though they contain nothing that actually helps you. It's like American health insurance in a pill. -BiPM
The next lines go ....
“Let her promise to atone,
let her shiver, let her moan,
I’ll slam the door and let the hell-cat freeze”!
but I knew you were “a most forgiving man”.
I went back to the time of the
wedding announcement, and I don’t know why this surprises anyone…If you know the “LATINO CULTURE”. you know this was bound to happen sooner than later…Latino men do not want their women overshadowing them….The fact her husband is CEO of a top Mexican corporation tells us he is a strong personality…I said than, it was only a matter of time before she gave up the career.. Now, she may or may not be pregnant, but this is the way it is south of the border…Come back later? someone is wishful thinking here….STUB
Stubbo
My experiance with the Latino community, “which I have found to be an awesome one” they are very strong with family values and family always comes first. I feel the opposite as you as it is the Woman that wear the pants in the house and not the men. Then again I am not latino and only have many friends that are.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Shame.
She has to do what she thinks is right of course. But by quitting now, she will never be thought of as a great player in history, but one who could have been.
If this is a bigger priority than being a “historic figure” in golf – then so be it and we should give her credit for doing this.
I’ve been reading Sam Snead’s book “The Game I Love”, and just finished his chapter on Byron Nelson. He talks about Nelson’s plan to play golf long enough to support the wife and buy a ranch…and he did just that. Snead compares Nelson to Bobby Jones’ retiring early, saying, “There were no other worlds to conquer. Or there WERE worlds to conquer – they just were different from the ones the sportswriters thought worthy. We shouldn’t be forced to chase someone else’s dream or even someone else’s idea of what is good enough.”
Great stuff – and all the best to Lorena if this is what she is doing.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Well said!
Placebos, of course, are things you have to swallow even though they contain nothing that actually helps you. It's like American health insurance in a pill. -BiPM
I couldn't agree more..
I was referring to golf history, not what is right for her. Interesting about Nelson. All time great, 11 wins on the trot etc. But years later, there is still a bit of what might have he won had he played well into his 40’s, as Hogan and Snead did. Ochoa will be judged the same.
which is why Snead put in the line about Nelson and Jones’ goals as opposed to the ones sportswriters deemed worthy
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Again, I agree..
but forget the sportswriters view…she will know in 30 years time she could have achieved a lot more..it’ll be too late by then. If she is happy with that,in 30 years, great. Only she will know and only then.
maybe – she wouldn’t be an athlete if she didn’t play the “what if” game down the line – but I get the feeling that if family is her reason for doing this, 30 years from now she’ll be pointing at her kids and grandkids…hopefully very happy with how they turned out.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Hopefully.
That’s what is really important in life. Just hope she’s content with " I was just a very good player once" when she is talking to those grandkids one day.
but, court, Byron Nelson was 36, three
years younger than the current best golfer on the planet, Phil Mickelson…
I'll keep an eye out for you...at www.oneeyedgolfer.blogspot.com
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Apr 20, 2010 7:48 PM EDT reply actions
excuse me ?
Jim Furyk is 39…40 in a few weeks ! :-D
What does Nelson’s age have to do with it ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Easy..You are "spot on"
gad, I’ll be speaking proper English yet, about Mr. Nelson….He still had a lot of game…I used to re grip his clubs, when he played only occasionally….His right hand was bigger than his left, so I put an extra layer of tape at the bottom of the grip…During one conversation, I asked him point blank on why he didn’t keep playing….No beating around the bush…his reply….I did everything I wanted to do, I promised my wife that when I got the ranch, it would be just her and me….no more traveling and being apart….You just can’t argue with that logic…and to hell with the sports writers….than and now….STUB
I guess major records then for pros
didn’t mean as much as it does now. Playing during the war during that streak dilutes it a little, but amazing anyway. Traveling then was a lot harder than now. Still, to me, he was behind Hogan. Must have been great to know him, mate.
Snead disagrees with that argument against the streak, too. He wrote that both he and Hogan played a number of Tour events that year. Hogan played 18 times and won 5. Snead played 28 tournaments.
Other players in the field during that streak included Demaret, Lloyd Mangrum, Jugs McSpaden, Ralph Guldahl, and Sam Byrd…and the list didn’t end there.
Snead and Hogan were in the Service, but they were basically celebrities in uniform – teaching and doing appearances. Nelson also did a lot of fund raising appearances to help the cause.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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