A reporter asked what she was thinking when she made the turn four down and her reply was: "I was thinking I had nine more birdie opportunities." That is what Sorenstam is all about. Everything ahead of her is not just a challenge but an opportunity to achieve greatness.
When she played at the Colonial in 2003 she risked not only her reputation as a golfer but the image of the entire LPGA Tour. What if she had shot an 85? But it was a risk she was willing to take. And it was her heartfelt articulation of her emotions, as well as her superb ball-striking, that earned her -- and women's golf -- a legion of new fans.
Make no mistake about it: Annika is not the ice princess some perceive her as. When she walked to the tee to hit her first shot at Colonial she was so nervous she could not make words come out when a friend wished her well. As she stood on the tee box waiting to be introduced you could see the muscle in her neck pulsing with tension. Then she ripped it right down the middle.
When I talked to her about the thoughts that got her through that day at Colonial she didn't reveal any great swing secret, but rather a secret of the soul, a glimpse at what makes her so special.
"I told myself two things," she said. "First, the worst thing that could happen to me was that I would learn something. And second, I told myself that no matter what happens, Nelson, my cat, would still love me. [Before the first drive] I told Terry [her caddie], 'Wherever this ball goes we're going to find it and hit it again.' "
For Sorenstam, it has always been about the challenge, not the glory, not the money. Meet the challenge and everything else will take care of itself.
There are other memories of Annika: When she made a 16-foot putt to halve the 17th hole in the 2003 Solheim Cup to keep her better-ball match all square and tossed her putter in the air in joy; when she cried after winning her third U.S. Women's Open in 2006 at Newport CC -- 10 years after winning her second; the 59 she shot in the 2001 Standard Register Ping tournament; finishing off the career Grand Slam at the Weetabix Women's British Open in 2003; being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame the same year.
But it just may be that one of the last memories will linger the longest. She played the Michelo Ultra Open last week knowing she was going to announce her retirement two days after the tournament was over. Imagine that pressure. Think of how she reached inside and willed out that victory. Now think about this: She is not done yet.
If you think Annika Sorenstam is going to mail in the rest of the LPGA season, you haven't been paying attention for the last 14 years. She is determined to win as many more LPGA events as she can. And she is determined to pick off at least one of the three majors left on the schedule.
As she finished off the last of her media obligations on Tuesday, Sorenstam seemed totally at peace with her decision. Jokingly, I said to her she should run the table and win the rest of the tournaments she plays.
"How close will that get me to Kathy Whitworth?" she said, referring to the Hall of Famer's all-time LPGA victory record of 88. And you know, deep down inside the soul of that champion there is a very large part of her that is thinking exactly that way. Even if she wins no more this year, she will be leaving on top. But one more burst of greatness would come as no surprise to this veteran observer. I'm thinking Sorenstam views retirement as a competitive sport.
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