Sorenstam to quit competition at end of the year
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, who has dominated women's golf for a decade, said on Tuesday she would quit competition at the end of this year.
Sorenstam, who has 72 LPGA Tour victories and 10 major titles, made her announcement at a news conference before this week's Sybase Classic in Clifton, New Jersey.
"I am very proud of what I have accomplished as a professional golfer and while I will no longer be playing competitively, I will continue to be very involved and engaged in the game of golf," Sorenstam said.
The 37-year-old Swede earned a record eight Player of the Year awards on the LPGA Tour after starting on the circuit in 1994 and won six Vare trophies for lowest scoring average.
Sorenstam was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.
Her announcement comes after a seven-shot victory on Sunday in the Michelob Ultra Open in which she beat world number one Lorena Ochoa among other rivals to ease some of the frustration of a winless 2007 season marred by back and neck injuries.
"The reason for this decision is that I have other priorities in my life," she said. "I have a lot of dreams that I want to follow, I want to live and I'm getting married in January.
"(Fiance) Mike (McGee) and I want to start a family."
AT PEACE
Sorenstam said it was important for her to regain her form and not be forced into retirement due to injury. Her win at Kingsmill was her third of the season in eight events played.
"I wanted to leave on my terms when it felt right. I didn't want an injury to take me away from this game. Now I feel at peace."
Sorenstam was a model of consistency during her reign at the top of the women's game, using a dedication to fitness to maintain a competitive edge.
She feels the women's game is in very good health.
"I am also very proud of women's golf and the state it's in today," she said. "I think the last 15 years, I've seen a tremendous change and it's really grown to an amazing place.
"I'm just very, very happy to have been a part of it and had a chance to follow my dream."
Sorenstam said she would continue to pursue her business interests, including her golf academy in Florida, charitable foundation and golf course design projects.
She said she planned to complete her full schedule this season, playing some 17 more events concluding with the Dubai Ladies Masters.
"I am going to focus on my game the next seven months. I'm a huge competitor and right now I'm second on the Money List, and people that know me, know I don't settle for second," she said.
(Editing by Clare Lovell)
