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 yesterday 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 past three years and won 27 times over the past six.

"Lorena Ochoa confirms her retirement from the LPGA, as news reports in some media have said today," her statement said.

The LPGA said late yesterday that Ochoa had not withdrawn from next week's Tres Marias event in Morelia, west of Mexico City, and indicated she was expected to play.

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.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NEVADA'S BABBITT TO ENTER NBA DRAFT

Nevada forward Luke Babbitt, who averaged 21.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season, said he will hire an agent and forgo his final two years of eligibility to enter the 2010 NBA draft.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound sophomore was named an honorable mention All-American by the AP.

Nevada junior guard Armon Johnson announced earlier this month he too intended to hire an agent and enter the June draft.

ELSEWHERE

Tennis: Serena Williams is not going to play for the U.S. against Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals this weekend. Venus Williams still needs to decide whether she'll be on the team. Both sisters have been dealing with leg problems, and U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez has been holding open a spot for the matches at Birmingham, Ala.

College football: 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. Texas coach Mack Brown said McGee will miss "at least the first game next season."