Mexico City — Her voice breaking and eyes watering, Lorena Ochoa said goodbye to golf.
She made her farewell Friday after a career in which she reigned as No. 1 for three years, captured two majors and 27 tour victories and was honored for four straight years as the LPGA Tour’s Player of the Year.
“We all know that Lorena’s golf has spoken for itself,” LPGA vice president Jane Geddes said, sitting alongside Ochoa. “But what has always been the most impressive to the players is the way in which Lorena was able to balance her rise to greatness with such humility.”
Ochoa made her surprise announcement Tuesday. On Friday she filled in the details.
She will step away as an active player after next week’s Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico. She left the door slightly ajar to play a few more tournaments, including her own Lorena Ochoa Invitational each November in her hometown of Guadalajara.
But a full-blown return seems unlikely. She wants to raise a family — she was married in December to Aeromexico chief executive Andres Conesa — and run her charity foundation. Ochoa said she had planned to play the entire 2010 season. Two tournaments in Asia earlier this season changed her mind.
GOLF
Two teams lead at Legends
Savannah, Ga. — The team of Mark O’Meara and Nick Price carded a 10-under 62 Friday to tie John Cook and Joey Sindelar for the lead after the better-ball first round of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.
Five tied at Zurich Classic
Avondale, La. — Lee Janzen, Alex Cejka, Brian Davis, Greg Owen and Jason Bohn were tied for the lead at 7 under when second-round play in the Zurich Classic was suspended because of heavy rain. Lightning forced the suspension of play at 12:57 p.m., and heavy rain continued for hours at TPC Louisiana. Play was officially called for the day at 5:21 p.m. Janzen (66), Davis (66) and Alex Cejka (67) completed the second round.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Cornell taps Va. Tech aide
Virginia Tech assistant Bill Courtney was hired as Cornell’s basketball coach Friday, succeeding Steve Donahue at a school that did the Ivy League proud with its NCAA Tournament run.
This is the first head-coaching job for Courtney, a 39-year-old well-traveled assistant who was introduced at the Ithaca, N.Y., campus.
Donahue took the Boston College coaching job two weeks ago after 10 seasons with the Big Red. He won three straight Ivy League titles and led Cornell to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament in March.
Iowa State hires Grayer
Ames, Iowa — Iowa State has brought back Jeff Grayer, the Cyclones career scoring leader, as an assistant coach. Coach Greg McDermott announced Grayer’s hiring Friday, pending administrative approval.
Grayer holds 13 school records, including 2,502 career points, and his jersey was retired by the school in 1991.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NCAA approves bowl slate
Indianapolis — The NCAA has approved 35 bowl games for the next four years, including two new ones: the Dallas Football Classic and the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in New York.
The NCAA said Friday that the bowls were licensed on a four-year cycle for the first time, though they will be reviewed each year. The move puts the licensing schedule — from 2010-11 through 2013-14 — in line with the length of bowl conference agreements.
The first Pinstripe Bowl will be played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Dec. 30. It will include the No. 3 team in the Big East and the No. 6 school in the Big 12, excluding Bowl Championship Series participants.
The first Dallas Football Classic at the Cotton Bowl is planned for New Year’s Day 2011, involving the seventh-ranked team from the Big 12 against the sixth-ranked team from the Big Ten. Future games will include Conference USA.
BASEBALL
Royals release reliever Cruz
Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have released Juan Cruz in the latest step in revamping one of baseball’s worst bullpens.
Kansas City also designated right-hander Luis Mendoza for assignment on Friday and filled the open spots with lefty Bruce Chen and right-hander Brad Thompson, two non-roster invitees to spring training.
Cruz agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract in February 2009, but the Royals decided to cut ties with the right-hander after he allowed opponents to hit .391 against him in 51⁄3 innings this season.
Last week, Kansas City designated right-hander Roman Colon for assignment and called up right-hander Josh Rupe from Triple-A Omaha.
Dodgers shelve Ramirez
Washington — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right calf. Ramirez was injured running out a single during Thursday’s game at Cincinnati and was removed for a pinch runner. It’s the same problem that caused the 37-year-old Ramirez to miss two starts last weekend.
AUTO RACING
NASCAR dodging rain
Talladega, Ala. — The Nationwide Series race and Sprint Cup qualifying are still scheduled for today even as a threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms looms at Talladega Superspeedway. Track chairman Grant Lynch and NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter each said on Friday that enough pockets of sunshine were forecast that they felt they could press on. Hunter said NASCAR would consider a doubleheader with Sunday’s Cup race if the second-tier Nationwide race is wiped out by rain.
Pocono gets new name
Long Pond, Pa. — Pocono Raceway will have corporate sponsorship for its June Cup race for the first time since 1996. Pocono’s June 6 race will be called the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target. Pocono’s June race had been called the Pocono 500 since 1997.
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