Former LPGA star recognized for charity work

Lorena Ochoa is still winning awards. They just aren't on the golf course, where she won 27 events, including two major championships in her short but brilliant career.

Ochoa, the LPGA Tour star who retired from competitive golf at age 28 in late April 2010 to concentrate on her foundation helping impoverished children, received the Charlie Bartlett Award on Wednesday night.

In early February, Ochoa was presented the Bob Jones Award from the U.S. Golf Association for "distinguished sportsmanship."

The latest award was presented to Ochoa by the Golf Writers Association of America at the group's annual Spring Dinner and Awards Ceremony at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.

The award is for "unselfish contribution to the betterment of society."

"I have a responsibility, and I need to keep going and helping as much as I can," Ochoa said Wednesday.

Former Bartlett Award winners include Tiger Woods (2007), Greg Norman (2008), Jack Nicklaus (2009) and Ernie Els (2010).

"With the winners before me, it's nice to be one of them," she said.

In 2004, Ochoa started the Lorena Ochoa Foundation in her hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. The foundation's mission is "the holistic development of marginalized children and teenagers through education, character development and family support so they have the opportunity to fully develop their talents and abilities."

Thanks to the foundation, there is a high school in Guadalajara called La Barranca, which opened last fall. It has a progressive curriculum for children who might not otherwise get an education.

Ochoa, the former No. 1-ranked women's player in the world, thinks the timing was right for her decision to retire.

"Yeah, for sure," she said. "I can tell you again and again. I was lucky. I'm enjoying this part of my life. I'm very happy."

Ochoa said she "didn't retire from golf," because she still conducts clinics and is the host and plays in the LPGA Tour's Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, scheduled for Nov. 10-13. Last year, Ochoa tied for 25th place after rounds of 74-71-69-74 in her tournament.

"I am pretty busy," she said.

Ochoa, who is writing a yet-to-be-titled book to be published this fall, made it clear that she won't return to the LPGA Tour.

"I don't see myself playing full time again," she said.

Ochoa wasn't able to make it to Augusta National Golf Club before Wednesday's awards ceremony, but she will be at the course today for the first round of the 75th Masters Tournament.

Her only previous visit came "two or three" years ago, she said.

"It's very impressive," she said of the course. "The TV doesn't do it a lot of justice. It's amazing and unbelievable. To be able to stand under the (big oak) tree and see the 18th green and watch the Par-3 was a great experience."

She said she doesn't know any of the pros in the Masters except Fred Couples, whom she teamed with in the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge one year.

In addition to Ochoa, the other award winners Wednesday night were Jackie Burke Jr. (William D. Richardson Award), Barbara Douglas (Ben Hogan Award), Steve Stricker (ASAP Sports Award) and Jerry Tarde (PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism).

The three 2010 players of the year -- Graeme McDowell (male), Yani Tseng (female) and Bernhard Langer (senior) -- attended the banquet.

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224 ordavid.westin@augustachronicle.com.