Women's world number one Ochoa retires

Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, the women's number one golfer, has retired from the game.

The 28-year-old will hold a news conference on Friday to explain her retirement, however it is thought that Ochoa wants more time to start a family.

She married Andres Conesa, the chief executive of Mexican airline Aeromexico, in her home city of Guadalajara at the end of last year.

Her official website, on April 20, 2010, read: "Lorena Ochoa has confirmed her retirement from the LPGA, as some media reported today."

"The reasons and more details on the matter will be given by Lorena personally in a press conference on Friday in Mexico City. Lorena will share this news of a new stage in her life with her sponsors, family members and friends."

It is unknown whether Ochoa will play in the Tres Marias tournament in Morelia, west of Mexico City next week.

The newspaper, Reforma reported that Ochoa was retiring to concentrate on her family and charities, but her exact retirement date is, at this stage, unknown.

Annika Sorenstam, the number one player in the world before losing the title to Ochoa in 2007, wrote on her blog that she was surprised, but not shocked at Ochoa's decision.

"She has always said she would play for maybe ten years and then leave the game to start a family. She just got married and obviously feels that she is ready for that next chapter in her life," she wrote.

The Mexican has won 27 times in only eight seasons on the LPGA Tour and has also clinched two major championships in the form of the Women's British Open in 2007 and the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2008.

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