MEXICO CITY — Lorena Ochoa is retiring, just as Annika Sorenstam did two years ago, leaving the struggling LPGA Tour without its No. 1 player again and depriving the sport of one of its great ambassadors.
Ochoa, probably the best-known athlete in Mexico who is not a soccer player, announced her surprise decision Tuesday and will discuss her plans Friday.
The 28-year-old Mexican got married last year, setting off speculation she might be putting golf aside to raise a family. She has been No. 1 in the world the last three years and won 27 times over the last six years.
“Lorena Ochoa confirms her retirement from the LPGA, as news reports in some media have said today,” her statement said. “The reasons and more details on the matter will be given by Lorena personally in a news conference Friday in Mexico City. Lorena will share this news of a new stage in her life with her sponsors, family members and friends.”
Sorenstam was 37 when she retired in May 2008, saying she wanted to pursue other interests and start a family. She now has a daughter.
Volquez suspended 50 games
CINCINNATI — Former all-star pitcher Edinson Volquez was suspended 50 games following a positive test for a banned fertility substance, a punishment that will cost him money but won’t hurt the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation.
The 26-year-old right-hander is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery and isn’t expected to rejoin the Reds until late July at the earliest. He can serve the suspension from Major League Baseball while continuing his rehabilitation at the team’s spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
Volquez said in a statement he received a prescription in the Dominican Republic as part of his treatment to start a family with his wife. He said the drug was banned by MLB; four types of fertility substances are illegal under baseball rules.
• Milwaukee Brewers bullpen coach Stan Kyles has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, will leave the team Friday to have surgery, and is expected to be away from the team for four to six weeks.
• Major League Baseball has dropped its five-game suspension of Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee.
Howard wins defensive player award.
Dwight Howard has won his second straight NBA defensive player of the year award after becoming the only player to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season twice — let alone in consecutive years.
• Former Nuggets center Marcus Camby has signed a two-year contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers.
• Jeff Bower is stepping down as coach of the New Orleans Hornets but will remain the team’s general manager.
Footnotes.
Boise State football coach Chris Petersen is poised to get a new five-year contract worth more than $8 million, pending approval Thursday by the Idaho State Board of Education.
• Texas tailback Vondrell McGee has been suspended for the first game of the 2010 season and maybe more after his arrest on a drunken- driving charge. The Associated Press
