Sorenstam could walk away from golf

Enjoy her game while you can, because Annika Sorenstam might not be around golf much longer.

She is only 32, just coming into her prime and coming off one of the most spectacular seasons in LPGA Tour history. Sorenstam won 13 times around the world, twice as much as any other player, male or female.

And it was no accident.

``Annika, more than any other player out there, has a single purpose,'' said Judy Rankin, a Hall-of-Famer and television golf analyst.

For that reason, Rankin would not be surprised if that single purpose was directed toward some other venture, such as starting a family or becoming a gourmet chef.

Sorenstam said as much while closing out the year with a victory in ADT Championship.

``I don't think I'll play another 10 years because I have a lot of other interests,'' she said. ``I need to be 100 percent ready to come and play. That's fine for now. But one day, I want to do other things. And I want to do those 100 percent.''

What other things?

``One day we would like to start a family,'' she said. ``I'm interested in cooking. I want to try to do something there, whatever that be -- it might be a big mess. I'm into the stock markets.''

Sorenstam retire?

Juli Inkster figured it was just Sorenstam sounding tired at the end of a long year. Being in contention takes a toll, and the Swede was there almost every week.

``She's been in the spotlight all year,'' Inkster said. ``Maybe when she gets away, she'll get the bug again. She's too young to retire.''

But when the reason for retirement turned to children, Inkster switched gears. No one knows better what it's like trying to juggle family and a golf career.

``I don't think she'll have kids and play out here,'' Inkster said. ``I don't think she'll come back and play 10 tournaments. I think it will be, 'See you later.'''

The LPGA Tour has plenty of working moms, none more successful than Inkster. She won four of her seven majors and captured the career Grand Slam after her two daughters were old enough to start school.

It was an amazing resurrection that landed Inkster in the Hall of Fame.

But it wasn't easy.

There was a time when Inkster was torn between hitting balls and baking brownies. She put on her golf clothes at 6 a.m. and didn't take them off until 9 p.m. after she fed, bathed and read stories to Hayley and Cori.

If something had to suffer, it would be the golf.

``For Annika, I don't think she can do that,'' Inkster said. ``You're up two or three times a night. You're traveling with car seats, bottles, cribs. There's a lot of stuff going on.''

Sorenstam could take seven years off, come out of retirement and return to the top because of her fitness, her skill and her devotion to being the best.

But why bother?

``She's done everything,'' Inkster said. ``She's in the Hall of Fame. She's won money lists, majors. If I had quit at 30, I would have felt like I didn't give it my all. I would have felt like I had more to prove to myself.''

All that's missing from Sorenstam's resume are two majors keeping her from the career Grand Slam -- the LPGA Championship and the Women's British Open. The latter means more because she is European.

``I want to win that badly,'' Sorenstam said.

She already has won 42 times, tied with Sandra Haynie at No. 8 on the career list, almost halfway home to the record 88 victories by Kathy Whitworth.

Now there's a carrot -- only Sorenstam isn't nibbling.

``That doesn't mean much to me,'' she said. ``I don't want somebody to ask, 'How many tournaments did Annika Sorenstam win?' I would rather they say she was a great athlete, she loved sportsmanship and she loved what she did.

``If they know my name, then they will know I played good golf.''

Sorenstam tossed out 50 victories as a ``great number,'' a goal that in the last two years has become realistic. At this rate, she could get that next year.

And then retire?

Sorenstam earned enough points for the Hall of Fame two years ago. She will not be inducted until she puts in 10 years on the LPGA Tour -- which is next year.

``She could get into the Hall of Fame and then say, 'That's it.' Or maybe she'll want to keep playing. I don't know,'' said her husband, David Esch. ``As hard as she's going to work this offseason, I wouldn't be surprised if she won 15 times next year.''

Meantime, Sorenstam only says she wants to enjoy the ride while it lasts, however long that turns out to be.

One thing is certain: She will not bring any game but her best.

``I wouldn't be surprised if Annika gives it all, then leaves and does something else,'' Rankin said. ``She doesn't have to spend a lifetime in golf to leave her mark.''

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