A Cryptic Tweet From Annika Might Get Your Hopes Up Too Much

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 19, 2009 1:19 PM EDT

Annika Sorenstam made a Tweet last night that might have gotten your attention.

Is she at the Academy getting ready for a comeback? Maybe she's just going to be training after having her baby. Nope.

Don't get your hopes up about a short break from golf for Annika Sorenstam. Annika references Pam in her message. Pam is Pam Kehoe, the director of operations at her Academy. It's just business.

From the Annika Academy site, we get a glimpse of what Pam and Annika were meeting about:

Pam has a dedication to excellence and is excited by the opportunity to apply her knowledge, creativity and skills to the daily operations and long-term planning for the ANNIKA Academy and its programs.

That doesn't mean that a return for Annika isn't imminent. When talking with the gang on Golf Chanel on the day of the Olympic announcement, she skirted the question of a potential return rather slyly. But, in 2016, Annika would be on the verge of her 45th birthday.

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I wouldn’t be surprised to see Annika show up here or there and play a handful of tournaments once in a while. She may well miss the competition and camaraderie of her old life on the LPGA Tour. Plus it would be very good for a tour that needs all of the positive publicity it can muster every time it can get it.

by Charles Boyer on Aug 19, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Totally agree. Would love to see her come back out every now and again – majors only, even – and I think it would be great for the sport.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 19, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a chance. She would have to be completely brain dead to JUST show up for majors. She knows too well the kind of tournament toughness and preparation it takes to perform well in a regular tournament – much less a major. She is not going to be an honorary dog and pony show. She was too great for too long to be a circus act – embarrassing herself and the game.

Maybe when she’s in her late 40’s or 50’s – but she is young enough to come back full time and has to decide whether she wants to put in the work to be a full time player, or a PR person giving support to the Tour – but not as a player.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 19, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that’s a fair assessment that we wouldn’t see her as just ceremonial, but even if she were, I was saying I wouldn’t care. That’s good for the LPGA. They need to have a link back to the past greats. For as many eye rolls as there were when Jack, Arnie, and Gary showed up at majors certain to miss the cut, people loved seeing them.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 19, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

True enough – but Jack and Arnie and Gary didn’t do that in their 30’s. (then again – they didn’t have to “fulfill their womanhood” and download a baby.) :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 19, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

If not for her competitive spirit, Annika needs golf as businesswoman. The more time that passes, the more people tend to forget. I would venture to say that business will be better within her ventures with her as an active player. Eventually she’ll pick the clubs back up to not only indulge her competitive nature, but to re-charge Annika Academy, her apparel line with Cutter & Buck, etc. It’s a win-win situation for her and I would be shocked if she doesn’t return, although think it could be several years (and another baby?) away…

That’s just my guess…

by MattSpence on Aug 19, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions