Sorenstam to retire at end of the season

TWO days after achieving the 90th professional victory of her amazing career Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam has announced she intends to retire at the end of this season.

The 37-year-old world number two said on her website she is to “step away” from competitive play and concentrate on her other business interests. She is also getting married again next April.

I’m leaving on my own terms,” Sorenstam explained.

Sorenstam is the only woman ever to shoot 59 in tournament play and still hopes to add to her 10 major titles, but for hitting the headlines nothing she does will ever match the 2003 Colonial tournament in Texas when she became the first female in 58 years to compete on the US Tour.

She missed the cut, but was far from out-classed and on her return to her own circuit remained the dominant figure until the emergence of Mexican Lorena Ochoa in the last two seasons.