PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA | It wasn’t the finish she wanted – a tugged tee shot into the rocks along the Pacific, followed by some clanky shots that led to a closing double bogey – but Annika Sorenstam might have been the only person who cared what she shot on Friday at Pebble Beach. The fact that she was there, in her final appearance at a U.S. Women’s Open, was all that mattered to most.
A wave of humanity worked their way down the final fairway, crowding the gallery ropes to see every shot. The grandstands behind the 18th green – one-fifth full for the group before that included first-round leader Xiyu Janet Lin – filled up in a matter of seconds as Annika, Michelle Wie West and In Gee Chun walked up, two for the final time.
When all the putts were holed, USGA CEO Mike Whan presented bouquets to Annika and Michelle while their families, friends and a smattering of fellow players offered long and loving hugs.
She refuses to do anything halfway, even when it’s walking down a fairway and waving to the crowd. Mailing it in is not an expression that translates into Swedish, and it’s a concept that has never entered Annika’s mind. When she finished, she was ticked off at the way she played. But, like most people with 52 years of wisdom, the feelings quickly passed. All that remained were the memories and the reflections of what this major has meant to her legacy and the women’s game overall.
“It's been a great week in so many ways,” Annika said afterward, her son Will by her side, and her husband Mike McGee and daughter Ava sitting just a few feet away. “Thank you to USGA. Thank you to Pebble Beach for hosting this big championship here. And to all the fans out there today, I just really felt the love and the support. It was just great to come down here the last few holes just feeling welcome and appreciated and having the family here and friends. It's been a special week in so many ways.
“Of course I wish I would have finished a little better, but this course kind of kicked my butt this week, but in a good way. I think it's a really good setup. It's a true test in so many ways, great condition, and just really fair. It just wasn't meant to be, but everything else was meant to be, and I'm just thankful for having the opportunity to be here.”
When she accepted a special exemption to play at Pebble, she did what she always does and went to work. When there’s an event on the horizon, Annika grinds. When it’s a USGA championship, the practice gets particularly intense.
But she has many other obligations. Annika hosts the Scandinavian Mixed on the LET and DP World Tour. She also has her foundation with its junior invitationals throughout the year. She is a speaker and a teacher and an entrepreneur. Her Fizzy Beez line of beverages continues to grow, and she still works with Callaway, Rolex and LOHLA Sport apparel.
Within the last year, she and Mike hosted a fundraiser for the victims of the train derailment and chemical spill in Mike’s hometown of East Palestine, Ohio. And next week, she will play as a celebrity in the American Century Championship near the family’s summer home in Lake Tahoe.
“I thought my last (U.S. Women’s Open) would be in 2008,” she said. “But then with everything that kind of came about with Will loving the game so much and COVID and me turning 50, all of a sudden, I started to play a little bit, and then getting the exemption here.
“But being part of this tournament has meant a lot to me. To see how far women's golf has come the last few years by playing courses like this, I'm hoping there are young girls around the world watching this championship and dreaming about one day playing on the LPGA or in a USGA championship. I think that's what's so nice about being a part of this event.
“Having said that, I know this is my last one. But it's been great to be here and really feel now that they've elevated the championship to a different level. We've played some great courses in the past, no doubt about it, but this is such a course. People are flying around the world to come here and play.
“You can see record crowds. It's been a success from every aspect. That says a lot about the event.”
Her thoughtfulness says a lot about Annika, too.
She won’t vanish. Annika will be in this year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open and the PNC Championship again with Will. But the U.S. Women’s Open torch has passed.
Fans on Friday at Pebble Beach were thrilled to be there to tell her, thank you.
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