Annika Sorenstam: Liar

A couple weeks ago, we cried ourselves to sleep with the knowledge that we would never see Annika Sorenstam play professional golf again. Now it turns out that we may have been deceived! That final round where she received a celebratory champagne bath—after missing the cut—was simply her final round on the LPGA tour. (Yes, I see that it says that here in this post written by me. Nevertheless!) Well, now she's playing her final final pro event on European Tour at the Dubai Ladies Masters—and even that might not be the end of the line.

Sorenstam made over $22 million in prize money—more than any women's golfer ever—plus millions more in endorsements and appearance fees, so even though she's only 38, she should be financially set for the rest of her life. She's poured her wealth into a new winery, a vanity perfume, clothing lines, designing her own golf courses, and launching a teaching academy. Plus, she's heavily invested in the stock mar... oh no.

“I’m very involved in the stock market, I invest my money I wish I could say wisely but I have obviously been affected,” Sorenstam told reporters on a conference call today. “I don’t think I can tell you I sleep good at night.”

Oh, right. That whole global financial meltdown thing. But still a deal is a deal, right? It's not like a pro athlete can say they're retired and then just come back and play whenever they want.

“I’m only 38 so if there’s something I missed, I’m going to make sure that it’s done by the time I’m finished,” the Swede said. “I don’t have any immediate plans on if I should return and, if so, when. It’s time to say goodbye. When I look back on my career, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I’m just going to go with the flow and see how I feel. It’s a little bittersweet to make this my last professional tournament."

Um, yeah. You'll come back. They always do, am I right?

Annika Sorenstam having second thoughts about moving on [Times Online] Sorenstam on course for career closer [CNN] Sorenstam Loses Sleep Over Investments as Golfing Career Ends [Bloomberg] Opinions vary on Annika's future as a player [Sun Sentinel]