Big news in the golf world: Annika Sorenstam announced this afternoon that she’s planning to “step away from competitive golf” after this season. Wow and wow.

Sorenstam has achieved pretty much every honor known to pro golf. The Hall of Famer has won 72 tournaments to date, including ten majors and a career Grand Slam. She’s been the LPGA player of the year a record eight times.

How appropriate that the former world number one is going out on top, having recovered from the back and neck injuries that plagued her last season. She’s finally back to peak form, having won three tournaments already this season including last week’s Michelob Ultra Open by seven strokes.

So what is she going to do now? She says she wants to focus on her businesses and on starting a family—she’s currently engaged to Mike McGee and is planning to marry in January of 2009. Along with golf schools, golf clothes, and golf courses, will there be little Annikas to look forward to?

Personally I wish she’d stick around long enough to beat Kathy Whitworth’s record of 88 wins. And that she and Lorena Ochoa would continue to battle for that number-one spot–rivalries make sports so much fun. But if anyone’s earned the right to quit when she’s ahead, it’s Annika.

“I’ve done a lot, and I’m satisfied in a lot of things,” she said. “I’ve achieved so much more than I ever thought I could.”

You can watch her press conference announcement here.

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