Lorena Retirement Clippings, Vol. 1**

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Or is it an indefinite leave? We'll find out Friday.

But considering the surprise nature of the announcement, the scribblers have done a bang-up job collecting some thoughts and insights into the possible reasons for Lorena Ochoa's departure from the game, and the potential impact on the LPGA Tour.

Golfweek's Asher Wildman interviews LPGA beat writer Beth Ann Baldry about the surprise timing.

Ron Sirak suggests that a combination of factors meant it was just time to take a break. Including this...

There had been whispers about trouble in Ochoa's personal life for well over a year, pretty much ever since Andres Conesa, the director general of Aeromexico, whom she married in December, went public with their relationship by appearing at LPGA events. The relationship complicated Ochoa's life in a variety of ways.

Not only is Conesa 12 years older than the 28-year-old Ochoa, he is divorced and has three children. Ochoa and her family are devoutly Catholic and the fact she was engaged to a man who had been married before complicated her relations with her family, according to sources familiar with the situation. Late in 2008, the Vatican asked Ochoa to become a global spokesperson for Catholic women in sports. When she told Vatican officials about Conesa the offer was withdrawn, sources said, hurting her deeply.

Alan Shipnuck says first sign of frustration with playing came after an incident at the Nabisco.

Ochoa was off to a listless start in 2010, and three weeks ago at the Kraft Nabisco Championship her frustration boiled over as she hurled her ball down onto a putting green, making a divot that required repair.

This fit of pique was at odds with a career that has always been defined by grace, class and humility, even as Ochoa smashed numerous records along the way. Born to a well-to-do family, Ochoa grew up in a house on Guadalajara Country Club, and by age 12 had already told her swing coach, Rafael Alarcon, that her goal was to be the world's best golfer. She was imbued with a sense of the limitless by her older brothers, who forced the teenaged Lorena to compete with them in eco-thons, rugged outdoor endurance races.

Ryan Ballengee points out that there were signs this might be coming.

Jeff Rude believes her "departure is the sporting public’s loss."

I’ll admit it – it bothers me a bit anytime a genius at his/her craft leaves prematurely. The world is deprived of the rare skill they have been blessed with. Potential goes unrealized. But then let’s face it: Money creates options for people.

Ochoa hardly is the first to say goodbye when it’s still time to say hello. The Beatles, Jim Brown, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Sandy Koufax, Barry Sanders and Sorenstam are among others who split during a stage of their prime and left people wanting for more.

Steve Elling says that Ochoa is one "the most courteous and personable stars in the golf galaxy," but can't help but wonder what this means for the tour in Mexico.

In an era when the women's game is fighting to retain both relevance and a presence in North America, the LPGA currently stages three events in Mexico, which is hardly a hotbed for the game. In fact, there's only one reason why the country has embraced the sport -- and she's apparently bailing out, at least temporarily.

Golf.com convened an emergency roundtable to discuss the news and included this on the business ramifications in Mexico:

Jim Herre, managing editor, SI Golf Group: Never helps to lose a top player, but in Lorena's case I think any negative impact will be felt primarily in Mexico and possibly South America. The LPGA has been making inroads in Latin America and Lorena was largely responsible.

Kim: Agreed, Jim. We were paving the way to play more in Latin America, and now that will probably come to a halt unless Sophia Sheridan and other players from Mexico make a splash.

Shipnuck: I think three tourneys in Mexico was at least one too many. If one or two drop off the schedule, that hurts. But if they can be relocated elsewhere, I don't think the players will mind, no?

Herre: The three sponsors are Mexican companies. Lorena made it attractive for them and for their customers.

Kim: The players would definitely be happy to relocate, that's for sure. However, Lorena's event is so limited that it doesn't affect that many people. The schedule is going to hurt if and when they drop, but who knows, the LPGA product is so strong that we will be able to get more events elsewhere.

And Garry Smits tells us that to be Hall of Fame eligible, Ochoa just needs 10 years under her belt at some point to complete her eligibility. He shares this anecdote about Lorena the person:

One story will always be remembered among the staffers at the World Golf Hall of Fame. During 2007, when Ochoa was on her way to the second of her four LPGA player of the year awards, a volunteer came to media relations director Jane Fader and said she thought a woman wandering through the exhibit hall was Ochoa. Fader checked and sure enough — it was Ochoa and her brother. They had shown up at the Hall of Fame without advance notice and simply paid their admission fee at the box office.