Why Is Annika Sorenstam Retiring Again?

Posted Dec 12, 2008 3:45PM By Shane Bacon (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Golf, LPGA

I have thought long and hard over Annika Sorenstam's decision to retire.

A fellow Wildcat and absolute menace to the LPGA society, Sorenstam has decided at the ripe age of 38 she was going to cash in her putter for Pampers and become a mother and a family lady. That sounds wonderful.

What I don't get is the fact that in what is sure to be the toughest economic time the LPGA has ever seen, the biggest draw in the sport is hanging up her spikes when she is still really dominant.

Annika is playing in her last official tournament as a professional this week at the Dubai Ladies Masters and lo and behold, is leading the damn thing. A two-under 70 to open and a six-under 66 that included four birdies, one eagle and no bogeys has her a shot clear of Nikki Garrett and Maria Verchenova.

I know what the pro-retire fans will say. She's leaving in her prime. She is going out on her own terms. This is a fairytale ending. Maybe you're right. I just don't see why getting out of the game when you can still dominate makes any sense.

John Elway retired after winning two Super Bowls but it wasn't like he was 26 and could run a 4.3. He was past his prime and landed in the perfect situation that allowed Elway to stay mostly in the pocket, toss the ball to Rod Smith or Ed McCaffrey, watch Terrell Davis Mile High Salute a time or two a game, and pocket those rings.

What would Elway have done in 1999 or 2000? Probably shown his age, declined a bit but been an adequate quarterback. I don't think he keeps winning Super Bowls.

Sorenstam can. She can win more majors and more LPGA titles and possibly pass Kathy Whitworth for most career victories. Annika might never get to the 15 major wins by Patty Berg, which is understandable. There have only been two golfers, Berg and Jack Nicklaus, to ever win more than 13 majors in his/her career.

Natalie Gulbis, a star in her own regard on the LPGA, chatted with FanHouse last week and said this about playing a practice round with Sorenstam earlier this month.

I played with her and I was thinking and I asked her, "Why are you retiring?" She hit everything inside of five feet! I mean, her swing looked as good as it did the year she won 10 times.

Obviously, being an independent contractor, as golfers are, you can do whatever you want. Play 10 tournaments a year, play in every one or step away from the game when you feel your time is up.

I just hope that in five years, she isn't kicking herself when her back hurts a little more and she can't hit the ball as far. These are prime years in a golfer's life. I just don't want to be the golf fan that has to say I told you so.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-12-2008 @ 3:55PM

SanDiegoMark said...

She's retiring because golf isn't fun for her anymore. Yes, she can still win, and could cash in any tournament she played. But she simply doesn't feel the fire that she used to. And, she wants to start a family. She's 38, after all, and that's getting up in years to begin having children, especially if one wants to be a real parent, not just hand them off to the hired help. You try dealing with a one year old when you're 40! And, if she wants more than one child? Number two would be in a couple of years, so now she's having a baby at 40+, there's health risks involved.
She's doing the right thing, for herself and her husband. I'll always respect and admire her.

12-12-2008 @ 5:51PM

Robin said...

She's 38 years old. Is she supposed to give up having children and actually watching them grow up to save the LPGA from tough economic times? She's been the big draw on the LPGA for 15 years; it's time for somebody else to step up to the plate.

The article is written as if it's inconceivable that somebody should give up professional athletics before being dragged off kicking and screaming. It really isn't.

Real golf fans wish her luck and happiness and thank her for what she's done for her sport. They don't second guess her decision.

12-12-2008 @ 7:21PM

alexands said...

Like everyone else has pointed out...she is doing the correct thing for her. Having children is what she wants to do, and there is nothing saying that once they are here and wandering around she can't come back and kick Michelle's and Natalies butts on the "new" LPGA while wondering if her husband forgot to tuck the kids in or not.

12-16-2008 @ 3:13AM

Matt said...

There are many women where motherhood is essentially "hard coded" into who they are and nothing else will satisfy as much as filling that role for her family. That thought might be rained on in this day and age where some women try to make the women I'm talking about feel like they're wasting their life, underachieving or giving in to caveman-era values by not trying to keep a full or even time career outside the home while trying to raise kids. Continuing playing golf could even be "a waste" in comparison to what she could be doing with her family.

12-16-2008 @ 9:59AM

terry said...

With Lorena the best on the LPGA and getting better that made her decision easier. There are plenty of good players and I don't think the tour will suffer in the least. Like every champion the time comes, true she is still very competitive and would do well but it is doubtful she would ever top Lorena or anyone of a handful of the rising young stars as the best player.