Sorenstam 'far from retired'

UNDER THE OAK TREE

Annika Sorenstam, 43, is one of the greatest golfers of all time. She won 89 times worldwide and captured 10 major championships. In 2003, she became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event in decades when she teed it up at Colonial. Now retired from competition, Sorenstam is visiting Augusta for a few days.

Q: What are your plans for the week?

A: What I’m going to do is catch up with some friends, watch some good golf and do some corporate outings. It’s a busy few days, but it’s something you put on the calendar early in the year.

Q: You’ve been retired for a few years. How do you spend your time?

A: I feel like I am far from retired. We were just at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and we announced the Rolex Annika Major Award that we’re going to give to the player who performs the best in the five LPGA majors. And I do some TV work. I would say the biggest thing is being the mom of two little kids.

Q: Tell us about them.

A: We have a boy and a girl. Our girl just fell and broke her arm, so she has a big cast. We have to do a lot of helping her with everything. I guess it’s just part of being a parent.

Q: Have you ever played Augusta National?

A: I played here a few times. I shot under par the first time I played here, so I’m proud of that.

Q: What do you think about the Masters?

A: It’s always exciting. I’ve been lucky to come here and play. It’s fun to see how the best male golfers in the world handle this. It’s the first major of the year, and I just love watching it. It just sets the tone for the rest of the year.

Q: Who do you think will win?

A: I think it’s going to be who handles around the greens the best. I’m sure greens will be pretty fast on the weekend. I think the course will get tougher along the way.

Q: What memories of the Masters did you have?

A: The green jacket is what sticks out to me, and the flowers. When I saw it as a little girl, I didn’t know where it was. But it looked beautiful with the flowers and the green jacket.

Q: You and Tiger Woods used to text each other when one of you won a major. Do you talk to him anymore?

A: No, I don’t. We had a fun little major rivalry. I enjoyed that. I’m sure the Masters will go on, but he’s always been a big part of it. I’m sure it will fire him up for next year.

ALL ABOUT ARNIE

Arnold Palmer shares a dubious Masters mark with the highest final round by a champion.

He shot 75 in 1962 to fall into a three-way tie with Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald. Palmer prevailed in the 18-hole playoff with 68.

In 2008, Trevor Immelman shot 75 in the final round but still won by three strokes.

MASTERS SPEAK

Don’t call the big green-and-white structures around Augusta National “scoreboards.”

“Leaderboard” is the preferred term, and that’s why they have the word “leaders” at the top.

Except for the start of the tournament, when the boards show the current major champions and a handful of amateurs, the boards are designed to show who is leading the tournament.

They also contain information about the group that is currently on the hole, and they can inform patrons of important messages such as weather warnings.

– John Boyette, sports editor