What's Ahead For Annika
December 10, 2008
By Scott Smith, USGA
Annika Sorenstam is taking her final bows as a competitive golfer
this weekend at the
Dubai Ladies Masters
. She leaves the world of professional golf on her own terms, as
the most celebrated woman player of her generation and arguably the
finest of all time.
Sure, there were a few naysayers over the years, like when she
accepted the invitation to tee it up on the PGA Tour in 2003 at the
Colonial Invitational (and though she missed the cut, her winning
performance that week had those critics eating some Texas-size
crow). But while the once-shy Swede was happy to let her clubs and
her composure do most of the talking for her, the golf world was
often agog over her accomplishments.
Veteran Annika chronicler Ron Sirak perhaps summed it up best in
a recent column
in the newsweekly
Golf World
: "The five-year run Sorenstam had from 2001 through 2005 was a
stretch of domination that compares favorably with that of any
athlete in any sport. She played 104 LPGA tournaments and won 43,
with a total of 86 finishes in the top 10 and 67 in the top three."
"She's a true icon," Cristina Kim said of her captain at the Lexus
Cup team competition in Singapore in late November. "She's one of
those people you come across once in a lifetime. We didn't only
know her, but competed against her. Truly an honor."
The young American had just helped Team International to a 12½-11½
victory over Team Asia, when she turned to Annika and added, "The
passion, everything that you've done is a milestone. You've been a
historic person."
The history books will also show that captain Annika, playing in
her second-to-last competitive event, holed a 45-foot chip for
eagle on the par-5 18
th
hole to give her and Suzann Pettersen a comeback, 1-up victory in
the first day's best-ball match; on the second day the playing
captain bested Se Ri Pak, 3 and 2. It was the two global stars'
first-ever match against one another, and afterward Pak said this
of Annika: "Everybody dreams to be like her."
"What we should be celebrating here is the good fortune we have to
be alive when one of the greatest male golfers and one of the
greatest female golfers are playing at the same time," wrote Sirak.
"What Woods and Sorenstam have achieved since the mid-1990s will
have people generations from now looking at the history books and
shaking their heads in disbelief and wishing they had seen them
play."
The record book is now closed. So what's next? Plenty, as you'll
hear from Annika in her own words below, as she describes how she
plans to move onward with the same drive and determination she
displayed inside the ropes.
Chief among her new roles is that of USGA Ambassador. Said USGA
President Jim Vernon of the decision to have Annika represent the
game's governing body: "She's been a great ambassador to golf,
period. By the way she conducts herself, whether it's in a USGA
championship or just in golf, generally. She has been a true
champion, as hard a competitor as you can imagine. At the same time
she has won with humility; she has lost with grace and good
sportsmanship; and she has also invested herself in helping others
in the game as well.
"Those are all things that ring true at the USGA, the things we
aremost interested in. We really look forward to this new
relationship with her, because she epitomizes so many of the things
that are great in golf."
Annika begins her new role as Ambassador by sharing these thoughts
on her farewell tour from competitive golf, her upcoming marriage
and her goals for life ahead.
USGA: Following the ADT Championship in Florida, you fly to
Singapore to play in the Lexus Cup, visit a course you're designing
in Malaysia, and then play in an Ladies European Tour event in
Dubai. Are you surprised at how global your life and golf have
become? ANNIKA:
We have really been nonstop since April. I will have circled the
globe a couple times this year when it's all said and done. I enjoy
playing internationally as I think our sport is global. Nearly all
of my new course design projects are overseas, mostly in Asia. I
look forward to doing my part to help grow the game around the
world.
Juggling all your commitments on-course and off, how have you
been able to focus on your biggest commitment: to Mike McGee on
Jan. 10? Can you describe your plans for the wedding? ANNIKA:
Mike actually works with me as the managing director for my
businesses, so he's pretty understanding. He travels with me and
works very hard either from the hotel rooms or in the Media
Centers. We have fun together and we're lucky that we've been able
to see the world together. With regards to our wedding, we really
haven't had the time to focus on it too much, especially with my
"farewell tour." Selena Nobilo is our wedding planner, and she's
been fantastic. Once we're back home in Orlando for good on Dec. 22
this year we'll focus on it. We get married Jan. 10 at Lake Nona
where we live. It will be fairly small wedding with close friends
and family.
You're hosting
the
ANNIKA Invitational
in mid-January. Can you talk about what it means to bring 60 of the
best girl golfers from around the world to your home turf?ANNIKA:
Yes, the ANNIKA Invitational is the weekend after our wedding. The
ANNIKA Foundation actually created and owns the event. We try
to inspire children to reach their potential and stress the
importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle. The American
Junior Golf Association is such a fantastic organization, so we
were happy to partner with them to create an invitational event for
the top players from around the world. Being an international
player myself, I feel it's important for these girls to test their
talent against the best players. They will be able to see the
ANNIKA Academy and try Callaway's latest equipment. We will also
have media training and teach the importance of health and
nutrition. Proceeds will go to endow an ACE Grant with the AJGA. We
got started selling it a little late this year, but next year we
hope to have a title sponsor and make it the best tournament on the
AJGA.
Can you comment on what Dottie Pepper said recently, that
missing the cut in the 1999 U.S. Women's Open sparked a shift in
your preparation and training?ANNIKA:
In 1999, I had already won 18 tournaments on the LPGA, including
two U.S. Women's Opens. However, I knew I could get better,
so I analyzed my weaknesses and focused on improving them. I
was an average putter and had average distance. I worked with
Henri Reis and Dave Stockton every day on my putting and started a
rigorous workout program. The results that followed were
pretty amazing. I have continued to train regularly and feel
that core strength is very important in everyday life. Tiger
did much of the same and has really worked hard to sculpt his body.
Reflecting on the highlights of your career, which memories do
you value most?ANNIKA:
I am extremely fortunate to have had a really wonderful
career. My back to back U.S. Women's Opens at such a young age rank
right up there, along with my win in 2006 in Newport. I would say
in addition to the highlights you mention, winning three LPGA
Championships in a row, being inducted into the LPGA and World Golf
Halls of Fame and having the lowest scoring average in LPGA history
were pretty special. It also meant a lot to win in Hawaii this year
right out of the gate after my injury last season. Also, winning at
the Michelob this year in dominant fashion, knowing I was going to
announce my "stepping away" the following week was pretty special.
What does becoming a USGA Ambassador mean to you? ANNIKA:
It is truly an incredible honor. To represent the United States
Golf Association when I'm not even from the USA, says it all. The
governing body of golf … it means so much to me. I look forward to
working with the USGA to help grow the game and educate people on
the Rules of Golf.
For your life following competitive golf, how will you measure
success? ANNIKA:
First of all, I want my foundation (
annikafoundation.org
) to grow and help change people's lives. I have been very
fortunate throughout my career, and it's time for me to give back
and help other kids follow their dreams because I am living mine. I
have a chance to have a lasting legacy and truly make a difference.
Mike and I hope to have a family in the coming years. I also want
grow the ANNIKA brand of businesses. Right now I have the
ANNIKA Academy, Golf Course Design, the ANNIKA Collection of
clothing with Cutter & Buck, and a signature line of headwear
with Gogie Girl. We're also coming out with an ANNIKA wine label
next May through a partnership with Wente Vineyards, and a
fragrance line with SA Fragrances. I host a tournament on the
Ladies European Tour as well. I want to continue to grow and get
better in every area of business, while expanding into other
areas. I hope to be the first female athlete to have a
successful brand of businesses bearing her name.