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Baldry: The timing of this is shocking
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Rude: Sorenstam puts life over craft
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Players, friends react to announcement
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Sorenstam send message with No. 72
By EVAN ROTHMAN
Senior Writer
CLIFTON, N.J. – In the end, it was quintessentially Annika Sorenstam.
Speaking May 13 before the Sybase Classic,
Sorenstam, winner of 72 LPGA titles, announced she would “step away
from competitive golf” at season’s end following an historic 15-year
pro career. The 37-year-old LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member
kept her composure throughout the 25-minute press conference; it may
have been more surprising had she not.
Sorenstam arrived at the dais wearing a black
hat and black long-sleeved top, the funereal attire broken by khaki
pants. She looked down at a lone, folded piece of paper she brought in
with her while patiently waiting for a few minutes for technical
difficulties to be resolved, occasionally smiling at a familiar face.
“Hi, everybody, and thank you for coming,” Sorenstam
began. “The last time I saw so many cameras was at the Colonial.”
In truth, there was a mere fraction of the media
here than at Fort Worth, Texas, in 2003 during Sorenstam’s most daring
professional moment, playing against the men in the Colonial. The news
conference was only made public this morning, but the small assemblage
– 26 seats filled, plus a few more journalists and photographers
ringing the room – witnessed a vintage Sorenstam effort: focused,
on-point, professional, winning. The notes proved unnecessary.
After making her announcement that she would retire
from competitive golf at the end of this season (her final event will
be the Dec. 10-13 Dubai Ladies Masters), Sorenstam rolled efficiently
through her reasoning before offering her thanks.
“I’m leaving the game on my own terms,” she said. “I felt
it was my responsibility to the LPGA and to the fans to let them know
now. I want to be fair to everyone. I have other priorities. . . . I’m
happy, content and at peace.”
Sorenstam noted that she had watched former Green Bay
Packers quarterback Brett Favre’s retirement news conference, and
Favre’s talk of the daily grind overwhelming his competitive desire
resonated. The overall health of women’s professional golf also helped
make her decision, she said.
“It’s the right time for the LPGA,” Sorenstam said.
“We have a commissioner (Carolyn Bivens) that really cares, and I’m
proud of the state of women’s golf.”
Sorenstam expressed gratitude to her parents; fiance
Mike McGee (they are to be wed in January); agent Mark Steinberg;
sister Charlotta; her coaches, instructor Henri Reis and fitness coach
Kai Fusser; caddie Terry McNamara; and her sponsors and friends. She
went on to acknowledge her appreciation to the media – “for writing
nice things about me” – and, finally, the fans.
Doubters were left with a small window as to whether
2008 will truly mark the end of Sorenstam’s playing career. She cited
her competitiveness several times in the course of her prepared remarks.
“I have seven months left,” she said. “The goal is to win tournaments and win majors.”
She later responded to a direct response about whether her decision was “forever.”
“I don’t know about ‘forever,’ ” she said. “For now, definitely.”
Pressed on the issue later, however, she said of her competitive drive, “It’s either on or it’s not.”
Longtime Sorenstam watchers, meanwhile, would not
have been surprised to hear her first response when asked what she
believed was her greatest accomplishment.
“Consistency,” she said, before citing more
groundbreaking, bold-faced feats: Shooting the LPGA’s first 59 (at the
2001 Ping Standard Register), her proud effort at Colonial, her 10
major titles, including three U.S. Opens. She was also typically
modest. Prompted by a reporter about her role in globalizing the LPGA
Tour, she responded, “I’m just one small face of the LPGA.”
Hardly. Sorenstam’s place in the game’s lore is secure:
• 88 victories worldwide, including 72 on the LPGA Tour;
• 10 major championships;
• eight Rolex Player of the Year awards;
• eight money titles;
• six Vare Trophies for lowest scoring average;
• eight Solheim Cup selections;
• more than $22 million in career earnings.
For all her accomplishments, Sorenstam’s sense of
perspective came through as well. “I’ve been lucky enough to have a
hobby as my job,” and thanking the game itself for the “great places it
has taken me and great people I’ve met.”
Her priorities, she noted, were soon starting a
family and succeeding with her new job focus, namely, making a success
of her various business ventures. Under the Annika brand, these include
her golf academy, charitable foundation, course-design business,
apparel collection and financial group.
“I was a little nervous coming here today – you
could compare it to having two putts to win a tournament,” she said.
“But I have no second thoughts. I felt at peace winning on Sunday (a
seven-stroke victory in the Michelob Ultra Open, her third LPGA title
of
the year), knowing what I’d do today.”
When the last question was asked, the assembled press
corps broke into polite applause lasting only a few seconds. It was
insufficient for the moment, yet somehow appropriate for the woman who
always made a lot of noise in golf without saying too much.
• • •
Evan Rothman is a
Golfweek senior writer. To reach him e-mail
erothman@golfweek.com.
Posted: 5/13/2008
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