Fresh off a year in which she won ten of the twenty events she entered, Annika Sorenstam was named the Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. Sorenstam won the award easily, earning 40 first place votes while her closest competition garnered only 15 votes. Few athletes in any sport have been as dominating as Sorenstam has. Since 2001, she has logged 38 victories including four majors, topped the money list every year, and entered The World Golf Hall of Fame.
Sorenstam’s first win of the year began at the ANZ Ladies Master’s in Australia. Sorenstam would go on to win nine more times in four different continents. Although Sorenstam did not play enough rounds to qualify for the scoring title, she did tie her record scoring average of 68.7. Yet, Sorenstam refuses to be satisfied saying, “I’m still so far away from it but I’ve come so far ahead of what I ever thought I would.” With so many accomplishments under her belt and a career that is far from over, few can argue with the AP’s choice for the female athlete of the year.
Who the heck got 15 votes? What were those judges smoking?
Sorenstam needs to win the LPGA Grand Slam. Then, if she wants, she can walk away completely on top. Even if she won nothing else that year.
Annika is my hero. She deserves the credit she gets. She’s a class act and ice on the golf course. Wish I had her game.
Second place was Diana Torosi of the UConn women’s baseketball team. I think it’s pretty incredible given that it was also an olympic year and she beat out all the olympians.
She’s already completed the career grand slam, but I agree that winning all four in a year would cement her as maybe the greatest female athlete of all time. Barring injury she’s more than capable of doing it.
You know, I think I read it as “AP Female Golfer of the Year.” Not “Female Athlete of the Year.”
Duh, me. 😛