Sorenstam ponders life after golf as she enters final Open

Jennifer Simonson, Star Tribune

Annika Sorenstam signed autographs as she approached the 18th tee at Interlachen Country Club during Wednesday’s practice round. This will be her final U.S. Open; she is retiring at the end of the season.

The LPGA's dominant force over the past decade is firm in her decision and has sought advice from former players.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: June 25, 2008 - 10:58 PM

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When she was a little girl in Sweden, Annika Sorenstam remembered, she would pretend that every 3-foot putt was at the U.S. Open, never knowing she'd ever get there. On Wednesday, she smiled at the memory. Sorenstam, the LPGA's dominant player for more than a decade, has played in 14, winning three.

Today she will begin her last. In May, Sorenstam announced she would retire at the end of the season. During a long and winding news conference, Sorenstam reflected on her long and sparkling career.

• On playing in her final U.S. Open: "It is special. To be honest, I try not to think about it. ... I can be an emotional player, but I can also be a very cold player, and I try to just stay cold about my emotions and just focus on what I have to do."

• On her decision to retire: "It's been coming on the last six months or so. I think with my success out here, I think with the [neck] injury, I think with all the other interests, if you put them all together you start realizing where your love is going ... and it became very evident early this season that I think that my tank is running empty."

• On how the LPGA Tour has become more international in her time: "It's more global, and we see a lot of players from Asia now. I think this is a good time to look at the [U.S.] system and see what do we need to do to grow the game over here. We need to make sure we get some future [U.S.] stars."

• On whether she has solicited advice from other retired former players: "I've spoken to a few players; one of them is Amy Alcott. I talked to her at Nabisco. ... It was a good way for me to hear what she had to say, what she's doing and what it feels like to miss the tour. And I have spoken to Nancy [Lopez] a little bit about what's next. And she doesn't think there's a next. She thinks I need to be out here. So that conversation wasn't very long."

• On Tiger Woods, who won his 14th major at the men's U.S. Open (Sorenstam has 10 major victories): "Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to catch him now. He's got 14 and I have two more [to play]. So I have to let that race go."