No room for emotion in Sorenstam's Open farewell

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Three-times champion Annika Sorenstam has refused to be distracted by nostalgia when she makes her final appearance at the U.S. Women's Open this week.

The former world number one announced last month she will quit competition at the end of this year and would dearly love to win another major title before she takes her last bow.

"It is special but, to be honest, I try not to think about it," the 37-year-old Swede told reporters at Interlachen Country Club on Wednesday.

"The last few tournaments it's been the same way. Last week was the last time (for me) in Rochester and then it was the last time at (the) McDonald's (LPGA Championship.

"I can be an emotional player but I can also be a very cold player," added Sorenstam, who earned a record eight Player of the Year awards on the LPGA Tour after starting on the circuit in 1994.

"I try to just stay cold about my emotions and just focus on what I have to do.

"But I do know in the back of my mind that when Sunday comes I will not be playing here any more. I will miss it but on the other hand this is my decision to step away and you can't have it all."

Sorenstam, who is making her 15th appearance at the U.S. Women's Open this week, said she had decided to call time on her career because her tank was running empty.

"I've had a lot, over the last 15 years, and I've enjoyed it," she added. "Now it's time to move on and I think there's going to be some other things to look forward to.

TANK EMPTY

"I don't know if I'll come back in five or so years, but I am stepping away completely from competition at the end of the year. I think that my tank is running empty.

"You only have so much to give and I'm coming to a point where it's hard to get geared up other than for big events," the 10-times major winner said. "It's tough to be out there every day grinding and working and improving.

"All the traveling and to plan everything you do around golf, the schedule and practice, you name it. You just don't have the energy as much."

Sorenstam, who has piled up 72 LPGA Tour victories in a glittering career, has always had a soft spot for the U.S. Women's Open.

It was the first LPGA title she won, in 1995, and she went on to clinch the trophy the following year and for a third time at Newport Country Club in 2006.

"The Open has always meant a lot to me," said Sorenstam, the dominant figure in women's golf for the last decade. "I just love the history about it, the courses that we play and the atmosphere.

"When I was a little girl, I pretended that I would have a three-footer for the U.S. Open. Obviously at that time I didn't know if I was ever going to play in it but now I've done it 15 times and every year it feels very special."

Sorenstam, a three-times winner on the LPGA Tour this season, is scheduled to tee off with Norway's Suzann Pettersen and American Paula Creamer at 1814 GMT in Thursday's opening round.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)