Suzanne Pettersen has a different take or her Scandinavian sister's somewhat abrupt retirement news this week.
Pettersen, who hails from Norway, said she wasn't exactly shocked to hear that world No. 2 Annika Sorenstam had decided to retire at year's end, since she had ben openly talking about quitting the LPGA tour grind for months.
Yet Pettersen, who won five times last year, raises another good point: What was there left to accomplish? With 72 wins, 10 majors, a record-low 59 and eight player-of-the-year awards among her feats, the Swede has slain every dragon that's come at her. Sorenstam wants to try other pursuits and start a family.
"It's always kind of a shock when the word comes out officially," Pettersen said Thursday at the media day for the McDonalds LPGA Championship, the season's second women's major. "I mean, I know she's been thinking of it. It wasn't a big surprise. She kind of halfway said it at the Solheim that that might be her last one.
"I mean, as long as she's happy with her decision. She's done everything for women's golf. She can sit back and really be proud of all she's achieved. There's nothing more for her to prove. She has been the best. She has been one of the best ever. She will set records that everyone will try to chase for the next decade."
A decade at minimum.
