On Tuesday afternoon, Annika Sorenstam probably the greatest female golfer ever to play the game, walked into the media tent of the Sybase Classic at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, N.J. she smiled and announced that she was stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the season. "I have other priorities," she said. "A lot of dreams I want to follow. I'm getting married next January, and I want to start a family and continue to build the Annika brand of businesses, including my academy, my foundation, and my golf course design projects."
"There's still golf to be played," she said. "I have another seven months left, and my goal is to win tournaments, to win majors."
In her 15-year career Sorenstam has won more than $22 million, 72 LPGA events, 10 majors and 16 international tournaments. She also made a historic start at the PGA Tour's Colonial in 2003, shot an iconic 59 in tournament play in 2001, and was named LPGA player of the year eight times.
"I am very proud of what I've achieved," she said. "Golf has been great to me. I think I've achieved more than I ever thought I could. I have given it my all and it's been fun. I have come back from injury and I feel strong, and the season has started really well. I'm leaving the game on my terms."
"I'm very happy in my life. I'm very content with what I've achieved, and it just feels right. I'm at peace with what I'm doing."
She was careful not to use the word retirement. So watch out for her returning in a few years time.
Tiger Woods was playing for the first time since arthroscopic knee surgery two months ago.
Miguel Angel Jimenez won the his first PGA Championship title after beating England's Oliver Wilson in a play-off at Wentworth.
