Ochoa glad she left on top but not ruling out playing again

Long-time world number one Lorena Ochoa said on Wednesday she had no regrets about quitting the LPGA, five months after walking away to start a family, but refused to rule out a return in future.

The Mexican, who had been the top-ranked woman golfer in the world for three years in a row when she bid an emotional farewell to the LPGA in May, said she made the right decision at the right time.

“I’m not thinking right now of next year. They ask me all the time if I will play again,” she said.

“I don’t think I will play full-time but for sure I would love to be back, maybe play a (Kraft) Nabisco (Championship) or Evian (Masters) or British Open. I think I will play some tournaments in the future.”

Ochoa was speaking to reporters ahead of the Mission Hills Star Trophy pro-celebrity tournament in Haikou, southern China, where she is among the field of professionals chasing a US$1.28mil purse.

The four-time LPGA Player-of-the-Year, who notched up 27 career wins including two majors, said since leaving the Tour at the age of 28 she had been able to enjoy golf without feeling pressure.

“For sure I miss (it), 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,” she told reporters.

“I achieved what I wanted to achieve and I wanted to retire as number one in the world.

“It was just the right thing to do for me. I knew I didn’t want to play forever – I wanted to play for a few years and then move on and do different things.”