Annika set to go out on a high

HAIKOU – Annika Sorenstam might be winding up her illustrious career but the desire to win is still raging inside her and she plans more victories in her final tournaments in China today.

The 38-year-old, who retires at the end of the season, has her sights firmly set on the US$1,8 million Grand China Air, the first official USLPGA tournament in the communist country. Named by Tiger Woods as the “greatest female player of all time” earlier this year, the Swede has almost 90 career victories worldwide since 1992, including three this year.”I have a few more chances.I’ve counted six events left, so it’s certainly coming to an end and obviously (it’s been) a wonderful ride,” she said.”I’m excited to be here and I’m looking forward to the next few tournaments.”I know it’s been different since I announced my stepping away plans in June.I haven’t really played as well as I wanted, so it would be nice to finish with a few wins and kind of leave it at that.”The women’s game’s most dominant player over the last decade also took time to reflect on the Tour finally coming to China, a booming economic giant that is now one of the key drivers of the growth of the world of professional golf.”Just looking at the last 15 years that I’ve been a professional and been on the LPGA, I’ve certainly seen a change,” she said.”Obviously the golf has gotten better and better.We’re seeing obviously a lot more of an international Tour and we’re seeing a lot more players from Asia “If I could guess what’s going to happen the next five years to 10 years, we are going to continue to see a growth from this part of the world and I’m sure we are going to see a lot more Chinese players joining the LPGA and achieving success around the world.”And I think this week, playing here, it’s a step in the right direction, and really showing that the LPGA is a global Tour.”That’s one of the reasons why I want to support this tournament.And I think we are going to see a lot more events in this area and, again, some more players joining the Tour.”Meanwhile, golfing sensation Tseng Yani believes the tournament has the potential to become one of the biggest tournaments on the calendar.The world number three from Taiwan burst onto the scene this year by becoming the first rookie to win a women’s major since South Korea’s Se Ri Pak in 1998 and she hopes to translate that form into the 1.8 million dollars Grand Air China.”If sport in China, and particularly golf, continues to develop at the speed it has over the last few years and is boosted by the Olympics, there is no doubt the Grand China Air LPGA could become one of the biggest events we have on Tour,” she said.”For that reason, I would love to be the first winner.In 20 or so years, this might be the one everyone looks back on as the one that started the golf boom for women in China.”Hopefully, the Olympics has shown that non-traditional sports, like golf, have a lot to offer and the timing of the LPGA is excellent coming just after the Olympics, so it is another great reason to look forward to the event.”The tournament features six of the world’s top 10 players, led by Sorenstam.The Grand China Air starts today.Nampa-AFPNamed by Tiger Woods as the “greatest female player of all time” earlier this year, the Swede has almost 90 career victories worldwide since 1992, including three this year.”I have a few more chances.I’ve counted six events left, so it’s certainly coming to an end and obviously (it’s been) a wonderful ride,” she said.”I’m excited to be here and I’m looking forward to the next few tournaments.”I know it’s been different since I announced my stepping away plans in June.I haven’t really played as well as I wanted, so it would be nice to finish with a few wins and kind of leave it at that.”The women’s game’s most dominant player over the last decade also took time to reflect on the Tour finally coming to China, a booming economic giant that is now one of the key drivers of the growth of the world of professional golf.”Just looking at the last 15 years that I’ve been a professional and been on the LPGA, I’ve certainly seen a change,” she said.”Obviously the golf has gotten better and better.We’re seeing obviously a lot more of an international Tour and we’re seeing a lot more players from Asia “If I could guess what’s going to happen the next five years to 10 years, we are going to continue to see a growth from this part of the world and I’m sure we are going to see a lot more Chinese players joining the LPGA and achieving success around the world.”And I think this week, playing here, it’s a step in the right direction, and really showing that the LPGA is a global Tour.”That’s one of the reasons why I want to support this tournament.And I think we are going to see a lot more events in this area and, again, some more players joining the Tour.”Meanwhile, golfing sensation Tseng Yani believes the tournament has the potential to become one of the biggest tournaments on the calendar.The world number three from Taiwan burst onto the scene this year by becoming the first rookie to win a women’s major since South Korea’s Se Ri Pak in 1998 and she hopes to translate that form into the 1.8 million dollars Grand Air China.”If sport in China, and particularly golf, continues to develop at the speed it has over the last few years and is boosted by the Olympics, there is no doubt the Grand China Air LPGA could become one of the biggest events we have on Tour,” she said.”For that reason, I would love to be the first winner.In 20 or so years, this might be the one everyone looks back on as the one that started the golf boom for women in China.”Hopefully, the Olympics has shown that non-traditional sports, like golf, have a lot to offer and the timing of the LPGA is excellent coming just after the Olympics, so it is another great reason to look forward to the event.”The tournament features six of the world’s top 10 players, led by Sorenstam.The Grand China Air starts today.Nampa-AFP