Golf: Dubai Swansong for Sorenstam

The Dubai Ladies Masters will be a very special golf event in December this year, it will be the last time the world gets to see the greatest female player of all time in competitive action.

Annika Sorenstam, who will go for a perfect hat-trick of Dubai victories this year, announced on Tuesday night that she will bring down the curtain on her all-conquering career at the end of the year.

The announcement came just two days after recording the 90th tour victory, a record 19-under par romp at the Michelob Ultra Open in Williamsburg, beating the tournament low score by nine strokes, and the rest of the field by seven.

Sorenstam’s $22 million prize money is $8 million ahead of any woman who has played the game, and she goes out while at the top of her game. Sunday’s victory was her third on the LPGA tour this year.

"I’m leaving on my own terms," Sorenstam told a press conference. The Swede, who has plans to marry in January and has myriad business interests, added: "I have given it my all and it’s been fun.

"This is a difficult decision to make because I love this game so much. It feels like the right one. I have a number of other priorities in my life, including starting a family, that I want to be as dedicated to as I have been to playing golf.

"I am very proud of what I have accomplished as a professional golfer and while I will no longer be playing competitively, I will continue to be very involved and engaged in the game of golf.

"Whenever I considered timing for this decision in the past, it was always important to me that the game was strong and I know that women’s golf has a very bright future ahead of it.

"It takes a lot of effort to be at the top and there is a part of me that doesn’t have that desire any more. It is just the daily grind – I’m not a person who can be out here just to be out here."

Alex Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, said: "Annika has been an inspiration and a role model to generations of golfers. Next year she will be sadly missed by everyone at the Ladies European Tour."

Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, CEO of "golf in DUBAI" – the organisers of the Dubai Ladies Masters, said: "Annika retiring from the game she has dominated for years certainly comes as a bit of shock for me. It hasn’t sunk in yet. It will be an honour for all of us in Dubai to host Annika in her farewell event.

"If women’s golf is as strong as it is today, it’s because of great players like Annika. She has dominated women’s golf in the same way Tiger Woods has transformed the men’s game," he said. "We look forward to welcoming her back in Dubai."

AWESOME ANNIKA

Sorenstam is the only woman ever to shoot 59 in tournament play

She has won 10 majors.

In the 2003 Colonial tournament in Texas she became the first female in 58 years to compete on the men’s PGA Tour.

She has won 90 titles on both the US LPG and Ladies European Tours, amassing more than $22 million in prize money.

Between 2001 and 2005 Sorenstam won more majors than Tiger Woods – seven to five – and they text each other when they win.

Fittingly, Woods holds the Dubai Desert Classic and Sorenstam the Dubai Ladies Masters – both have won twice in Dubai.