It’s pretty hard to argue that Annika Sorenstam is anything less than the most dominant woman in sports. She has been at the top of her sport since she joined the LPGA Tour in 1995. She stacked win upon win again in 2005, finishing the season with an astounding nine-win season. She has won more than eight tournaments in a season four different times. The last six years in particular she has owned the LPGA tour win column. Since 2000 Annika hasn’t won any less than five tournaments per year. The little blond from Sweden is a fierce competitor and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Sand Trap staff member Stacy Solomon recently featured the dominant Swede in Annika Sorenstam’s “Vision 54.” Here are some more thoughts on the most dominant of women golfers.
Born on October 9, 1970 Annika picked up golf at age 12. She might very well be known for her tennis game had she not given up on it at age 16. Apparently her back-swing in tennis was average and prevented her from excelling at the sport. It was an important failure that led to her eventual success in golf. She began to pursue golf in earnest, taking lessons from Henri Reis, a top instructor. She went on to attend the University of Arizona, went from there to the European Tour and eventually to the LPGA on a permanent basis.
Annika’s analytical mind has been perfect for the game she has dominated. When she left tennis as a teen she appreciated that golf allowed her to focus on herself and not so much on her opponents. Not only her mental awareness but her physical dedication has made her a consistent winner. I believe that Sorenstam’s dedication to her fitness routine is a primary reason she contends so often. This is not to take away from her ability as a ball striker. It just would be difficult for her to pick up nine wins in a season including two majors without being able to swing all weekend without fatigue.
Her 64 career victories have given her the confidence to know she can win. She has reached the 64 win column in only ten seasons on the LPGA Tour. That is an average of 6.4 wins per season. “I still get the butterflies on the first tee,” says Sorenstam. “I still get sweaty hands, and my heart pumps a lot going down the 18th. But I know what winning is all about now, and that’s a feeling that I like.” When you consider that Annika’s worst year was 1999 when she only won twice, it gives you an idea of how well she’s done.
The LPGA holds the most promise of perhaps any time in its history as young players like Paula Creamer have joined the Tour. Never in the history of the LPGA has someone been as anticipated as Michelle Wie. Morgan Pressel turned pro this Thursday and will add more power to an increasingly interesting women’s field. They will have to put on a pretty impressive show to outdo the likes of Annika Sorenstam.
If she can meet her 6.4 wins per year average, Sorenstam will surpass Kathy Whitworth’s all-time wins mark within four years. It is quite possible that Sorenstam will make it to this mark but I wonder if she can keep up the breakneck pace she has set for herself. Should she continue to win at least 8 tournaments a year, she’ll have the all-time wins record within three years. Personally, I don’t think that is going to happen. If it does, the golfing world had better stand up and take note. Never in the history of men’s or women’s golf has a player won 8 tournaments a year four years on a row. Sorenstam is in a league of her own. Arnold Palmer came the closest when in 1960 and 1962 he posted 8 wins. He fell two wins short of the mark in ’61.
Although Sorenstam may have the edge in overall skill (which is hard to prove) Whitworth should still be considered the greatest winner of all time. Should Sorenstam reach the 88 win mark it will be akin to cresting the summit of Mt. Everest. Below is a list of the players with the most career wins on the LPGA Tour:
Name Total Wins Majors Kathy Whitworth 88 6 Mickey Wright 82 13 Annika Sorenstam 65 9 Patty Berg 60 15 Louise Suggs 58 11 Betsy Raw 55 8 Nancy Lopez 48 3 JoAnne Carner 43 2 Sandra Haynie 42 4 Babe Zaharias 41 10
I predict that Sorenstam will eclipse the total wins mark within the next eight years. I seriously doubt she can continue to win eight tournaments a year every year until she’s 39. What Sorenstam has done is to set the bar so much higher than any female golfer in the last twenty years that only someone very special can surpass her. I’m going to enjoy the next several years of women’s golf simply because it is great to watch someone who is the very best in her field do what seems to have become natural to her.
Photo Credit: © Unknown, AP.
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