Sorenstam to say goodbye at ADT Championship

Nov 20, 2008 - 8:08 AM WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Ticker) - The ADT Championship is the LPGA Tour's season-ending event. It will also be the last in a long run for Annika Sorenstam.

After 72 LPGA wins and 10 major championships, Sorenstam has decided to end her Hall of Fame career and pursue other interests. She made the announcement in May and so her season has been building to this point for months.

She doesn't use the word retire, but has insisted she won't be seen on the LPGA Tour next season, and there is no guarantee she will be ever again.

"It's a special week in many ways," Sorenstam said. "You know, I feel I must admit I have some mixed emotions. I mean, I'm sad that it's coming to an end, but it's my decision and when I decide to do something, I stick with it.

"I'm excited about the future as well, so the feelings are very mixed to be here. But I'm going to enjoy the week and try to play some good golf. Maybe the momentum from last week will continue, and be able to have a chance on Sunday to go for the big jackpot."

Sorenstam has won three times on the LPGA Tour this season and has no regrets about moving on. She has said that she wants to start a family and pursue other business interests, including her golf academy in Florida. But she insists she is not retiring

"I'm not using the 'R' word for many reasons. I mean, if you know me well, I mean, I have a lot of other things to do. So I'm going to be quite busy the next coming years. That's why I'm excited. It's another chapter of my life, new challenges," Sorenstam said. "And I've enjoyed it immensely out here. And obviously achieved a lot more than I ever thought I could. So the game will always be with me. You know, if I get the urge to practice again and the motivation to go out there and grind and compete again, I know the door is open. So if that's two years from now, five years or if it never happens, I really don't know.

"I do not have any plans other than in '09 I'm just getting married and work on the business I have and go from there."