Annika Sorenstam will announce her retirement from the LPGA, according to a press release on her own website. Given her age, 37, her decision is appropriately termed "stepping away from competitive play. Sorenstam has been a professional golfer for 15 years, winning 88 tournaments, 72 of which were LPGA events and 10 of which were major championships.'After much consideration, I have made the decision to step away from competitive golf at the end of this season,' said Annika, who has added three more victories to her career total so far in 2008. 'Because I love the game so much, this is obviously a hard decision to make, but it feels like the right one. I made this decision because I have a number of other priorities in my life, including starting a family, that I want to be as dedicated to as I have been to playing golf and it was always important to me to go out on my own terms.'Sorenstam's legacy is unquestionable, considering the amount of notoriety she gained for the female professional golfers. She won the Golf Writers' Association award for female POY eight times and earned an astonishing $22 million plus in winnings over the duration of her 15 years on the links.
Her most famous moments, though, may have been interaction with the men's game, between her well known competitive friendship with Tiger Woods and playing in the Bank of America Colonial in 2003, the first woman to enter a PGA event in over 50 years. That is neither an indictment of the women's game nor an overstatement of the men's game; it's merely a compliment to Annika's 15 year dominance of the LPGA circuit.


Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-13-2008 @ 8:49PM
Mike said...
Annika,
This is a mixed emotion day, I am sad to hear you are retiring and we will get to see you on a limited bases. I had a brief conversation with with you at the first Tavistock event. It was at that point that I became a big fan. I am happy you are going out on top, to pursue your buisness andventures and time with her family. Good luck in the future and God Bless you and your family
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5-15-2008 @ 12:33PM
Jon Magarace said...
Annika,
You have been a class act since day one and have remained to this very day regardless of your competitive schedule. I think as a PGA Member I can speak for our organization and tell you our world of golf will miss you but certainly not forget you and what you have/and still do mean to the game. Greatest of luck on the next chapter in your life !!!
You know...The mens champions tour has never had a female compete as far as I know...Maybe then one of your future possible children can caddy for you in one when that time arrives
Jon
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