Final AnnikaWatch Update...of 2008, at Least

I'm not going to get all that emotional over the end to Annika Sorenstam's probably-not-all-that-final season on the LPGA Tour. First, her 2008 isn't over, as she still has a chance for at least 1 more LET win that would bring her world-wide total to an even 90 (to match her LPGA 72). Second, I don't think she's going to let the ADT be her last LPGA memory. And I don't think she'll be able to resist mixing it up with Lorena Ochoa, Ya Ni Tseng, Ji-Yai Shin, Paula Creamer, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, Seon Hwa Lee, and the other top contenders for #1 in women's golf after a few years mixing business and parenting.

So I'll leave the tributes and reminiscences to the pros, and simply review her record when playing head-to-head against her peers this season on the LPGA.

In the end, only 9 players could avoid getting beaten by her:

Angela Stanford (1-0-2)
Mi Hyun Kim (1-0-1)
Maria Hjorth (1-0-1)
Se Ri Pak (1-0)
Catriona Matthew (1-0)
Linda Wessberg (1-0)
Amy Hung (1-0)
Shanshan Feng (1-0)
Angela Park (0-0-1)

But only 2 can really say they had a great record against her. Any doubts that Tseng should be considered Ochoa's chief rival for #1 in '09?

Ya Ni Tseng (6-1)
Lorena Ochoa (6-3-1)
Juli Inkster (2-1)
Lindsey Wright (2-1)
Karrie Webb (2-1-1)
Paula Creamer (3-2-1)

Only 6 players have even broken even with her:

Inbee Park (2-2)
Hee-Won Han (1-1)
Helen Alfredsson (1-1)
Jee Young Lee (1-1)
Minea Blomqvist (1-1)
Catrin Nilsmark (1-1)

But mostly playing against her has been an exercise in futility (more so for some than for others). Check out the names who have struggled to beat her even once! Is Annika in Suzann's head, or what?

Jeong Jang (2-3-1)
Morgan Pressel (2-3)
Laura Davies (1-2)
Laura Diaz (1-2)
Sun Young Yoo (1-2)
Momoko Ueda (1-4-1)
Cristie Kerr (1-4)
Suzann Pettersen (1-5)

At least 30 more people can say they got to play with Annika during her farewell tour.

Stacy Prammanasudh (0-1-1)
Lorie Kane (0-1)
Pat Hurst (0-1)
Sophie Gustafson (0-1)
Na Yeon Choi (0-1)
Katherine Hull (0-1)
In-Kyung Kim (0-1)
Jane Park (0-1)
Teresa Lu (0-1)
Ji Young Oh (0-1)
Kristy McPherson (0-1)
Young Kim (0-1)
Il Mi Chung (0-1)
Gloria Park (0-1)
Jin Joo Hong (0-1)
Nicole Castrale (0-1)
Meaghan Francella (0-1)
Reilley Rankin (0-1)
Alena Sharp (0-1)
Charlotte Mayorkas (0-1)
Erica Blasberg (0-1)
Marisa Baena (0-1)
A.J. Eathorne (0-1)
Michelle Ellis (0-1)
Diana D'Alessio (0-2-1)
Christina Kim (0-2)
Ai Miyazato (0-2)
Eva Dahllof (0-2)
Seon Hwa Lee (0-3)
Natalie Gulbis (0-4-1)

Annika's record this year on the LPGA against 59 of the best women golfers in the world was 83-46-13. 'Nuff said.

[Update 1 (11/26/08, 12:09 am): Check out the Celebrating 15 Years of Annika page for more on her career.]