Lorena Ochoa at a Glance

29-year old Lorena Ochoa is considered by many to be the greatest Mexican golfer in history, and arguably can be listed amongst the best female golfers thanks to her stellar seven year career. Although retired, Ochoa still maintains her LPGA status in case she ever decides to return to the game.

Four-Year Dominance

From April 2007 through May 2010, Ochoa dominated the LPGA Tour, retaining her No. 1 rank in the Rolex rankings. Winning event after event, Ochoa was the top money earner for four years and has been blessed with accolades at every turn. Her first year on the Tour, in 2003, saw her ranked 9th on the money earner’s list thanks to eight top-10 finishes, which awarded her the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award.

Memorable Accomplishments and Feats

Lorena Ochoa has 10 LPGA awards, including Rookie of the Year. She won the Vare Trophy on four separate occasions and four straight Rolex Player of the Year awards. Winning 27 events in her career, including the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2006 (by five strokes) and the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2008 (by four strokes) Ochoa was rewarded for her accomplishments with the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

Her performance at the Kraft Nabisco Championship is memorable not only for her five stroke victory, but also for her record-tying final round score of 62, the lowest score by any golfer – man or woman – at the event. A year later, Ochoa became the first female golfer to earn more than $4M in a single season, eclipsing Sorenstam’s $2.8M.

Retirement

On April 20, 2010 Ochoa decided to hang up her cleats and retire, which came as a great surprise to her fans. She stated that she just no longer had a passion for the sport and that she had accomplished everything she wanted to do in her career, regardless of how long it lasted. Her final event on the LPGA Tour was the Tres Marias Championship, at which she finished 6th. She still maintains her Tour status in case she chooses to return to the game.

Ochoa is still heavily involved in golf, hosting the Lorena Ochoa Invitational every year at her home club Guadalajara Country Club. A part of the proceeds from this LPGA event goes towards the Lorena Ochoa Foundation, a school for underprivileged children.