One of those rare athletes recognizable by fans, from the fanatical to the casual, by first name only, announced her retirement from golf today.

“I have made a decision to step away from competitive golf after this season,” she said at the Sybase Classic. “Obviously this was a very difficult decision for me to make because I love this game so much. But it’s the right one.” Annika Sorenstam will be leaving the game she has dominated for so many years.  Fittingly this announcement comes days after a dominating seven stoke victory at the Michelob Ultra Open. 

Ms. Sorenstam has indicated in the past that she would like to raise a family and spend time growing her business.  The woman who arguably brought the LPGA tour into the public eye much the way Arnold Palmer did the PGA tour will be getting married in January 2009 to Mike Mcgee.  We have the rest of this year to enjoy her clashes with current world number one Lorena Ochoa.

I have been a fan since the 1995 US Womens Open, which now seems so long ago.  The criticism at the time was that her game could never last, after all she wasn’t even looking at the ball when she hit.  Then she won the 1996 US Womens Open.  So much for that nonsense.  What a journey she’s traveled from that time to this.  I won’t cite her wins, which total 72 today, nor her 59, you can read that anywhere and I’m sure it will be rehashed endlessly between now and the end of her 2008 season.  I will reflect on her never ending efforts to improve all aspects of her game.  She worked not only on swinging a golf club, but on her physical fitness at a time before it was popular and her mental acumen.  Somewhere I read there were folks who thought Annika might be using steroids.  I guess they would be the same one’s who have been abducted by aliens, taken aboard a spaceship and probed.  (ever notice all those stories contain incidents of being probed?)  I don’t doubt there are folks who believe Golf54 is a witchcraft program designed to hex one’s opponent.  I’ve found it to be one of the best programs for improving the mental game, and I need all kinds of mental help believe me.  How else does one get the chutzpah to play with the boys from their tees?  Just like a big box of Wheaties for breakfast. 

I’ll miss Annika for the time she’s gone.  I keep reading different reports of her announcement looking for her use of the word retirement.  It’s not there. Anywhere.  I won’t be surprised if , like the Terminator, she comes back at some point in the future.  Golf is a game that can be played at any age.  One need look no further than Julie Inkster to see how well skill and competitive fire age.  Quite well thank you very much.