Sorenstam’s swan song

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Lorena Ochoa was surprised.

Paula Creamer was shocked.

But Suzann Pettersen, in a form of appreciation, understood Annika Sorenstam’s decision to retire.

“She’s done everything she can for women’s golf,” said Pettersen, the defending McDonald’s LPGA champion said. “She’s had a fantastic career. There’s nothing more for her to prove.”

Sorenstam, who announced her retirement last month, has won 72 LPGA Tour events, including the McDonald’s LPGA Championship three times. In 2005, she won in the event’s first year at Bulle Rock. This year’s edition of the tournament runs Thursday through Sunday at Bulle Rock, the Havre de Grace golf course.

But the game of golf means more to Sorenstam than simply competing. She has established a brand - including an academy and a foundation.

Above all else, the timing makes sense, with Ochoa as the world’s No. 1 player.

“It’s just fun to see. That’s another reason why I feel like my timing of stepping away is good, is that the Tour is in great hands,” Sorenstam said. “The LPGA I think is at its top right now, and that makes it easy, too.”

Ochoa seems the most logical player to take over as the face of the tour, particularly now, when she’s won two consecutive majors. But even to Ochoa - now a contemporary - Sorenstam was once an idol.

“I will miss her a lot,” Ochoa said. “She was my motivation for many years, and I learned so much from her. I think we have great times together playing, and at the same time, I wish she would stay a little longer to enjoy her more.”

Ochoa feels her contemporaries will cherish the opportunities to play with Sorenstam for one final run.

But Sorenstam hasn’t intended the coming months to be a farewell tour. And she hasn’t had any second thoughts.

“This wasn’t a decision that I just decided over a cup of coffee,” Sorenstam said. “I mean, this is something that has come to me the last few months, and you know, I’m excited about the future and what that will bring. I have achieved so much more on the golf course, and I’m happy. I don’t need to do this anymore.”

Sorenstam was asked Tuesday if she could win one or two of the final three majors this year.

Her response: “Or three? Yeah, that would be great.”

The competitiveness is still there.

“I know I can do it,” Sorenstam said. “I’ve done it in the past. Of course, my focus is to play well and I want to do the best I can. But I try not to think about, you know, this is my last McDonald’s LPGA Championship. If I start thinking like that, I think it would be very tough.”

So the rest of the Tour is thinking it for her. And while it’s tough for them to envision the LPGA without Sorenstam, the future stars are appreciative of what she’s established.

“She’s leaving as a phenomenal person and a great player,” Creamer said. “Annika has always been a stand-out player, and I think everybody knows that what she’s done is why we’re here today.”

swelsh@baltimoreexaminer.com

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