“I didn’t want to make a mistake and go too long."

No major surprises in Lorena Ochoa's retirement press conference, but some nice writing from the scribes in attendance. Beth Ann Baldry writes:

Ochoa yearns for simple things, such as buying fresh flowers for her new home with Conesa and sticking around to enjoy them. After Morelia, she plans to sign up for cooking classes.
“Annika, she knew how to cook, but not me,” Ochoa said, laughing.

Many suspected that Ochoa chose to leave in the middle of the season because the newlyweds were expecting a child. Ochoa understands why people would jump to that conclusion, but said she simply came back from the Asian swing with no motivation to play.

“I didn’t want to make a mistake and go too long,” she said.

Ron Sirak sets the scene:

The mood was more celebratory than sad, marking a beginning of the next stage of Ochoa's life rather than an end of a remarkable golf career. Cameras clicked constantly as she read her statement and its conclusion was greeted with spontaneous applause. Sorenstam was 37 when she announced she was retiring at the Sybase Classic in May 2008 and by September of the next year was a mother. Those who know Ochoa well say they would not be surprised if she followed a similarly rapid path to motherhood.

"Today is the most special day in my career," Ochoa said, speaking in Spanish and wearing a golf hat. "Every career has a beginning and an end, and we are at the end." Addressing her parents she said, "You taught me to fight for my dreams." And in speaking of her husband, Andres Conesa, who she married in December, she said, "We want to have a family. I can tell you I am the happiest woman in the world."