Ochoa Retirement - First Thoughts

It seems that the Ochoa Era is now history.  We will hear on Friday her reasons for why it must end now, but we already know the gist.  Married just four months ago and renowned as a family-oriented person, Lorena Ochoa wants to start her own - now, at the age of 28.

It's a sad day for LPGA fans.  This was a day that we knew was coming but due to one singular reason, it was a complete shock because we had assumed it was still a couple of years away.  Lorena had said many times that she wanted to get married and raise a family after she had accomplished her goals as a professional golfer.  Those goals?  I'm paraphrasing several years' worth of quotes but they were to win the Player of the Year title, become the World's Number One player, retain both of those banners over successive seasons, win major championships and gain entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

That last item is the singular reason I was talking about.  Although she has the required points to qualify, Lorena was a rookie in 2003.  This means she would need to play regularly through the 2012 season to accomplish the final qualification to the Hall of Fame, the ten-year minimum season requirement.  Without that qualification, she only goes into the Hall as a Veterans Committee choice or if a special waiver is granted.

I'm sure someone will ask her about that situation on Friday, and I'm equally sure that her answer will make sense.  Goals are a funny thing - one's perception of which things are important changes over time (especially alongside life changes such as marriage) and your goals can change with it.  The personal goal took precedence this time and in that pursuit, I wish her all the best.