Lorena Ochoa calls it quits

One of the greatest female golfers and Mexican athletes of all time has surprisingly decided to retire from the game.

"Lorena Ochoa has confirmed her retirement from LPGA... more details will be released on Friday at a press conference," according to the golf star’s management group. The shocking announcement comes as the 28-year-old as at the peak of the women’s golf game having won 27 tournaments and earned $14 million. Though the communiqué did not explain why Ochoa is to quit she has previously expressed departing from professional golf in order to raise a family. (She admitted last year that the “things that I do outside the golf course” served as her “main focus.”)

Though Ochoa never reached the star power of Annika Sorenstam (who retired for personal reasons in 2008) her departure will leave a big void in the economically struggling LPGA Tour. Much like Ana Guevara in track and field, Ochoa was a superstar in Mexico on a level comparable to the country’s elite soccer players. Her legacy will hopefully continue via her numerous charitable efforts:

Earlier this month, Ochoa disclosed plans to open a golf academy in Mira Loma, California, targeting the area’s Latino population. Ochoa’s foundation also runs a similar school in Mexico and has plans to open academies in the U.S. and other countries.

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Online Sources- AP, Reuters, New York Times, Bloomberg