Are We Really Saying Goodbye to Annika??

The LPGA golf season is winding down. Over the weekend the LPGA professionals were in Guadalajara, Mexico for Lorena Ochoa’s Invitational Golf Championship. It was quite an exciting finish with the consummate professional Annika Sorenstam trailing Angela Stanford by only one shot on the last hole. She closed the gap to one with an unbelievable birdie on the 16th hole from the sand trap behind the hole.

There she was on the 18th green standing over a birdie putt approximately 12 feet from the hole with a chance to tie and send it into a playoff. As her putt approached the cup you can sense the anticipation in the crowd and on the green. In disbelief everyone watched as her putt circled inside the cup and spun out leaving Annika stunned and her playoff hopes dashed.

In her postgame interview comments as well as her with her willingness to sign autograph after autograph we witnessed what may be one of Annika’s greatest attributes…her professionalism. This week coming up she will be playing the ADT Championship event so she’s not finished just yet. But if she actually does ‘step away from’ the game (her verbiage that we tend to translate as retirement) what will that mean to women’s golf?

It is an undeniable fact that Annika has raised the standard of women’s golf and professionalism in the game of golf throughout the world. Will we ever see the mental toughness, the focus, the sheer determination and her willingness to put in the time on and off the course to be the best that women’s golf has ever seen? There are rising stars in the LPGA today but so far none have come close to matching her greatness. This is not meant to suggest that Lorena, Paula and others aren’t wonderful players. It’s just that Annika has set the bar so high.

We can only hope that Annika is simply stepping away from the game for a short period of time. She has certainly earned that right. It is hard to imagine women’s golf without Annika in the hunt. It’s like watching the PGA without Tiger playing.

From this author’s perspective, I doubt that there will ever be another Annika. On a selfish note I can only hope that we’ll see her compete again. But no matter what should happen I can only say thank you, thank you, thank you! True role models are hard to find these days. Annika you are a class act and you will be sorely missed. We wish you nothing but the best!!

You’re thoughts on Annika’s departure from the LPGA Tour are welcome. Please add your thoughts and comments below. Thanks for visiting us at Ladies On The Tee Golf Blog – www.sherrytabb.com.

Tags: ADT Championship, Annika Sorenstam, Annika's retirement, Lorena Ochoa, LPGA, LPGA Golf Tour, PGA, Women's Golf