Golf Update: Lorena says she has no plans to make a come back in golf even after winning the Mission Hills Star Trophy
Former world number one has no regrets regarding leaving LPGA. She told this to the press at Mission Hills, where the practice match of Mission Hills Star Trophy pro-celebrity tournament was taking place.
The Mexican diva however, rocked the world again as she won the trophy at the Mission Hills Star Golf Tournament in Haikou, in southern China's island province Hainan, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010. Making a brief return to competitive golf paid off as she walked
away with a purse of $1.28 million.
Few months back, the winner of 2007 Women’s British Open, Lorena Ochoa took retirement from professional golf in pursuit of starting a family. The 28-year-old Mexican is considered as the best female golfer in the world and it was she who retained the number
one title for three years; April 2007- May 2010.
Speaking to the press Ochoa said that she had no regrets about quitting the LPGA Tour. In fact, according to her, she took the right decision at the right time. Moreover, she had no future plans to make a comeback. She said,
"I'm not thinking right now of next year. They ask me all the time if I will play again. I don't think I will ever play full-time again, but, for sure I would love to be back, maybe play a (Kraft) Nabisco (Championship) or Evian (Masters) or the British
Open. I think I will play some tournaments in the future."
The Mission Hills Star Golf Tournament is particularly special because it is a winner-take-all occasion, pitting man and woman on the same golf course and playing from the same tees. The course included many golf greats such as Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam
and Faldo, along with celebrities Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Grant, Michael Phelps and Matthew McConaughey. In addition, young golf prodigy Danny Lee competed in the winner-take-all exhibition event.
Regarding her retirement, the 28-year-old said that she missed the tours and the travelling, but she was happy with her life. She quoted, "For sure I miss (it), and I would be lying if I said no, but I am also super happy. Every day it's more clear to
me I made the right decision at the right time. I achieved what I wanted to achieve and I wanted to retire as number one in the world.” She further went on to say that, it was just the right thing to do at that time, as she knew she didn't want to play
forever. Her aim was to play for a few years and then move on and do different things in life.
Lorena Ochoa left golf to focus on other priorities of life. When she took the retirement in April 2010, she released a press statement in which she said that her last tournament would be the Tres Marias Championship. She also expressed her sentiments and
said that she wanted to be the world number one, which she had achieved. Moreover, she did not have long term plans as a player, but she wanted to contribute in various charity foundations.
Lorena Ochoa has been running a foundation that has a primary and a high school under its banner. The mission of the trust is to educate the underprivileged students.
After her win at the competition, Ochoa told reporters that it was not enough to make her come back to competitive golf (she originally went into retirement last year because she wanted to spend more time with her husband and family). Before returning to
Mexico, Ochoa reported that she was "really happy" to have been crowned champion.
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