Final season for Annika Sorenstam

by cynthia yoo | May 13, 2008 at 06:02 pm | 225 views | 2 comments

After 14 years in the LPGA tour, Annika Sorenstam is retiring at the end of the 2008 season.  Sorenstam won $22 million over her career and competed against men in the PGA.

The 37-year-old Swede said she will retire at the end ofthis season to focus on her business career and family. She isengaged to business manager Mike McGee, with a wedding scheduledfor January 2009.

``I have other priorities in my life,'' Sorenstam said at anews conference today in Clifton, New Jersey, site of the LPGATour's Sybase Classic. ``I have a lot of dreams to follow. Mikeand I want to start a family.''

Sorenstam has won 89 titles, including 72 on the LPGA Tour,and an unprecedented eight player-of-the-year awards. Her careerwinnings are the most in women's golf history and she has toppedthe money list a record-tying eight times.

Sorenstam's 10 major championships tie her with BabeZaharias for fourth all-time, and in 2003 she became the firstwomen since Zaharias in 1945 to play in a professional men'stournament when she competed in the first two rounds of the U.S.PGA Tour's Colonial tournament in Fort Worth, Texas. She missedthe 36-hole cut by four shots after rounds of 71-74.

Hall of Fame

Sorenstam, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in2003, won the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill in Williamsburg,Virginia, on May 11 for her third win this season. She finishedat 19-under 265 to break the tournament's scoring record by fiveshots.

She ranks third on the list of LPGA winners behind KathyWhitworth, with 88 titles, and Mickey Wright, an 82-time champ.Her 10 major titles rank second behind Patty Berg's record 15.

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Don Jozwiak

Annika meets with members of the media on the day she announced her intention to play in an upcoming PGA Tour event. (photo taken on the range at Bay Hill)

Don Jozwiak has contributed a photo to this story.

e.adelof

Scandinavian TPC 2007

e.adelof has contributed a photo to this story.

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May 13, 2008 at 06:02 pm by cynthia yoo, 225 views, 2 comments

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