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Over the next 16 years, Sorenstam did almost everything right.
An eight-time LPGA player of the year, Sorenstam dominated the game like almost none other. She’s the only woman to shoot 59 in a competitive round, is one of six to achieve the women’s career Grand Slam, and became the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour when she played the Colonial in 2003 — missing the cut, but that hardly mattered.
“Personally, I think she’ll be back in a couple of years,” 2007 U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr said. “But that’s just me and my hopes that we don’t lose one of the best things that’s ever happened to women’s golf.”
Sorenstam’s presence in the Oakmont field was so unremarkable that Michelle Murphy — now the women’s golf coach at Portland — had no idea she was even in the tournament.
Which is strange, since Murphy was in Sorenstam’s first- and second-round threesome that week.
That’s right: She had an inside-the-ropes view at the start of golf history, and it slipped her mind.
“It was 1992, a long time ago, and I just remember she was a friend of my sister’s,” Murphy said. “I don’t remember playing with her that week at all. It was a long time ago. For golf, I don’t think this is a sad week. Annika is not going to disappear. I’m excited to see what she’s going to do with the next part of her life.”
Skalicky, now a lawyer in Manhattan who hasn’t played golf in 15 years, is equally curious.
“Because she was so young, I never would have thought she would dominate the way she did,” Skalicky said. “She’ll do nothing but promote the game from here and hopefully another player comes along to build the tour further up. There were a lot of forerunners before her also, and she carried the torch.”
Now, it’s time to pass that torch.
Sorenstam says she can step away knowing the LPGA will survive without her.
Lorena Ochoa has taken over as the world’s No. 1 player, there’s a growing group of international players quickly ascending the game’s ladder, and Sorenstam is convinced the women’s game is stronger than when she arrived.
All that remains, she hopes, is four more rounds — capped by a $1 million first-prize payday Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a special week in many ways,” Sorenstam said. “I must admit, I have some mixed emotions. 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. And I’m very excited about the future as well.”
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