LATV Honors Latina Athletes for Women’s History Month

For an athlete, retirement usually only becomes an option when their best days are behind them, or they’ve suffered catastrophic injury. It is extremely rare to see someone walk away while still at the top of their game, and almost unheard of if that person is still the undisputed best at what they do. 

For Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa, the decision to walk away from the sport she dominated came easily.

“People, they think that it was something really, really hard to do,” she said during an appearance on the ‘En Fuego’ podcast in 2020. “For me, it was not hard. It was something that came out easily. I promised myself when I see clearly that I want to get married and I’m ready to have kids, I’m going to step away. I also promised myself I’m going to play golf and I’m going to give it everything, 100 percent. But when golf isn’t my priority anymore, I’m going to move on because life is too short.”

Nos vemos en el ProAm de @IGPMGOLF gracias a tod@s las y los jugadores y socios estratégicos que apoyan el sueño de nuestras profesionales mexicanas. pic.twitter.com/RC1abUT6nl

— Lorena Ochoa Reyes (@LorenaOchoaR) February 10, 2022

At the time of her retirement, Ochoa, nicknamed ‘La Reina,’ was only 28 years old and had spent 158 consecutive weeks as the number one female golfer in the world. 

A native of Guadalajara, Ochoa began golfing when she was five. After honing her skills at different golf courses around the city, she teamed up with PGA Tour player Rafael Alarcón when she was 11. The partnership would prove fruitful and help accelerate her development. 

She attended the University of Arizona on a golf scholarship, and proceeded to rack up multiple accolades, including back-to-back NCAA Player of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002, and and a spot on the National Golf Coaches Association All-America First Team in 2001.

People immediately began to take notice, and, in November 2001, she was awarded the National Sports Award, Mexico’s highest sporting honor, by then-President Vicente Fox.

After turning pro in 2003, she won her first tournaments in 2004, the Franklin American Mortgage Championship, and the Wachovia LPGA Classic. In winning, she became the first Mexican-born player to win on the LPGA Tour. Fueled by her success, she blazed a trail and never looked back.

In 2006, Ochoa won both the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award (A distinction she held for four consecutive years), and the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award. 

She would take over the number one spot in the world rankings on April 23, 2007, and would not relinquish that title until her retirement in 2010.

In all, Ochoa would go on to win 27 LPGA Tour titles, including two majors (2007 British Open and 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship), and subsequently be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017.

In a country where golf is not prevalent, and especially not for women, Ochoa helped bridge the gap and put it on the map.

Fellow pro golfers Ana Menéndez and Gaby Lopez say they were inspired to pick up clubs because of Ochoa’s success on the world stage.

“When I was 13, I had the opportunity to train with her while she was ranked No. 1 in the world,” Lopez told ESPN in 2017. “That moment marked my life. Just being able to get five minutes with her were enough for me to help me fulfill my dream.”

Ochoa, for her part, understands and embraces the responsibility of cultivating and mentoring the younger generation.

Ayudemos a mejorar el futuro de nuestros niños a través de la educación. @LorenaOchoaR
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.#AyudarEsPosible pic.twitter.com/0iLlWIqlWa

— FundaciónLorenaOchoa (@fundacionlorena) February 8, 2022

“It fills me with hope that I can inspire them this way,” she said to ESPN. “It’s a huge responsibility to know that young people are watching and look up to you. I’m very proud to say I’m friends with both [Ana and Gaby], and to be able to help them any way I can.”

In 2004, Ochoa founded the Lorena Ochoa Foundation. Among other charitable contributions, the foundation helped establish La Barranca, an elementary school aimed at helping underprivileged students in Guadalajara. 

“To be able to change their lives and their futures, it’s something very special. I’m very proud to day that,” she told ‘En Fuego.’ “When I used to play, that was my motivation. Now that I’m here outside, that’s what I do. For me, that’s my motivation. It’s something special.”

As of 2021, the school has graduated more than 6,000 students, according to Ochoa.

In the end, Ochoa was shrewd enough to know that golf didn’t define her, and so she embraced life beyond the sport.

“I didn’t want to go on,” she said. “I realized at the time my life had changed, and golf was no longer the priority. I’m very happy to have mad that decision at the right time and focus on other things.”