LPGA winds down...

The ADT championship has just finished.  We once again experienced the exciting ending the playoff format intended to bring. Congrats to Ji Yai Shin on a great victory and season!

Thanks for all the support throughout my career and especially the last few weeks. The media coverage has been tremendous. The fans have been so involved and I am honored to have met many of you in person this week. It warms my heart that some of you came all the way to West Palm Beach to support me and witness my last competitive rounds on the LPGA Tour.

We returned home after Friday's round. I have had a chance to catch my breath, reminisce with my family and wind down after the emotional week. We enjoyed the Golf Channel coverage that night and even had a few tears.

We are just about to head to the airport for our trip to Singapore. We go through NY and will be gone for three weeks. Take care and have a great Holiday week!

Comments

[Golf54deciple]

Annika,
It figures you would wait until after the ADT was finished so that you could congratulate the winner--Ji Yai Shin. She did play well this year.

You're welcome in receiving our cheers and faithful committment. It thrills that you've allowed us to be involved as much as possible.

We're ever learning and ever growing.

Thnx bunches kiddo!

[Robert Higgins]

Annika, you're the best...you put everyone else to rest...time to go out west. Love you, and hope that you and your career keep going strong. Bob Higgins

[Kerry]

Enjoy reading your blog, have a great holiday week as well. God bless!

[Buzz]

Annika, have a very safe and happy trip to Shanghai and, if time permits, keep us posted, as you usually do, with the sights and sounds of the Orient.
Good luck to you and the team.

Then, it is good luck to you in Dubai and Godspeed back to Orlando.

And Michael, your job is to keep polishing that gem you are about to marry....'nuff said?

[Dee H.]

I agree thoroughly with Buzz. I will be tracking your escapades in the next 3 weeks and wish you the best, Big A! I hope you get to slow down a bit for Christmas. Mike, you do have a bit of pressure from us to treasure the gem that loves you. Enjoy each other and your family.

[sebastian]

thank you for all these years Annika,you are beautiful inside and out,an inspiration for all of us.

[Pam]

Annika, we do thank you for all the years. I have been glued to the TV whenever the LPGA aired just to see your tremendous talent, to learn some things about golf, and to watch the grace in which you played the game.

I have had the opportunity to attend several tournaments in which you played, but none that I enjoyed more than your time at the ADT.

You allowed us to have so much access for photos, autographs, and a few words. These moments will be cherished. Thanks for being who you are.

I met two other bloggers, Marg and Cheerie. They are super wonderful ladies. We walked several holes with you during the Pro Am and Thursday round. The neat thing is they flew from England and I from Mississippi, and we came together to watch the same special lady. What a following you have. (hello Marg and Cheerie).

Annika, your fans love you, and we will continue to follow you. Have a great time in Singapore. Bring home the trophy. Thanks for selecting Natalie Gulbis as the captains pic. She is another favorite of mine.

Sorry, did not mean to be so lengthy, but just wanted to try and let you know what pleasure you have given us all these years. Take care, have a happy life with Mike. As someone mentioned on an earlier blog, thanks for the memories.

[Laurie from Tampa]

There so many thoughts in my heart and mind after returning from the ADT, but most importantly, I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

[Christine]

Annika,

What a long way you've come since first arriving in Arizona. What a gift you have been to many by inspiring people to be both a good person and a good athlete. Professional sports needs more icons who are like you.

Peace. Enjoy this next segment of your life.
Christine

[T. Lau]

Annika, Much Mahalo for all you have done for golf. You are a class act and a beautiful person. I will miss you in our Hawaiian events. Thanks for signing my golf ball.

Best wishes in your next chapters in life, keep us posted. Take care of her-Mike.

Miss you already. ALOHA.

[Steve]

Annika, I have enjoyed watching you play golf in person or on TV for the better part of your career. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to "tee-it-up" week in and week out at the level you played at. AMAZING. Enjoy you're well earned retirement and new prospects. All the best to you.

Cheers,
Steve
Alamo, CA

[Leonard Basinger]

Annika,
It has been a great run. You will be missed by not only the LPGA, but also by your fans. Truthfully, I shed a tear when you finished the 18th Hole. Please try to come back, the game just won't be the same without you. Again, God bless and take care.
Leonard

[Golf54deciple]

Marge & Cherrie,
It's pretty awesome your making the trip clear from UK to join the faithful of Annika's Army and getting to meet Pam!

That's way cool.

[Jill B]

A 3 week trip to wrap it all up - I look forward to reading what you have to say...

I hope you all have a great holiday in Singapore - enjoy the team competition next weekend with all the gals - GO TEAM INTERNATIONAL and then go finish up by defending that title in Dubai.

We're with you.

[Eileen]

I suppose there isn't really anything to say, except a huge "Thank You." Thanks for letting us in to a small part of your life through the blogs and videos. Thanks for giving my daughters a role model they can look up to and aspire to emulate...a role model not only on the course, but off it as well. Thanks for grinding on the days you didn't want to be on the course, all in the name of the game.

Mike:
You also deserve a hugh "Thank You." You seem to bring out the best in Annika. Thanks for sharing her with us.

Now it's time for you to go and enjoy all that life has to offer. My family and I wish you both a wonderful future. "May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be at your back, may the sun shine warmly upon your face, may you be rich in blessings and poor in misfortunes, and may you see your children's children."

[Joni]

Hi, Annika,
I wrote a poem to share my thoughts about your career and your influence on us all. I hope you like it!

Her name is Annika,
And golf is her game.
But now she's stepped back,
It won't be the same.

Her fierce determination,
Style and grace,
Just isn't associated
With any other face.

Her competitors found
That they needed to work
Harder than ever.
They just couldn't shirk.

She made us ALL better
All the the players and fans,
With her skills and work ethic,
All part of the plan.

She gave to so many
In so many ways.
Whether instructing, signing, or granting last wishes,
These kind acts filled her days.

She'll continue to inspire
No, it doesn't end here
Her giving will go on
For many a year.

In closing, I thank you
for being more than a "star"
But rather the very best role model
To those of us near and those far!

Best wishes in the next chapter of your life, Annika!
Joni Granwehr

[Mary E.]

Watching all the tributes this week on Golf Channel for "ANNIKA WEEK" has been such a treat for all of your fans. Even the sports announcers/writers get choked up when they speak of you and all that you have accomplished.

One of my goals is to make it to the ANNIKA Academy so I am working hard to that end. I can only imagine the awesome time for those who have experienced it.

Play well in Singapore and we'll be cheering you on from afar! Happy Thanksgiving too!

[Lowell]

How nice to hear such genuinely deserved appreciation; easy to keep so well in mind. All the best!

[Marg & Cherry (UK)]

Just wanted to say hi to fellow bloggers we met on our trip - it was so good to be part of Annika's last LPGA event (we'll try to be back when you pick up the clubs again, Annika!); just wish we could get to Dubai to give you a send off there as well.
Entirely echo Pam's comments (Cherry says she is cheerie but answers best to Cherry - these English accents are tricky).

[Murray Goodhew]

My son and I have made the trip down to Royal Pines in Queensland to watch you virtually everytime you have played in the australian masters. We've studied videos of your swing and done our best to copy your techniques. He was all of 8 the first time we watched you. My coach, a pga pro, believes YOU have the best swing, male or female, EVER!!!!! Watching and learning I've shot 3 rounds in the 60's, something I've NEVER done before and my son has reduced his handicap by almost 14 shots. Here in Australia we will miss you, miss you more than you can possible believe. Good luck with the rest of your life, may you find as much joy in it as we have found in you.

[Dee H.]

Very sweet story, Murray, you must have a fantastic relationship with your son. I'm sure Annika would love that part the best, it's what stood out to me.

Missing Annika already...

[31Putz]

Hello Annika! We just returned from West Palm, and I was eager to visit the blog and see the many entries about the ADT. I and my partner Chris attended all week, and echo the same sentiments. You are always so gracious to us and spent time with everyone that asked on Wednesday (ProAm) for autographs or pictures. We appreciate your golf game so much, and respect you tremendously as a person. We had the wonderful experience of meeting Mike (we are from Ohio - GO BUCKS); and he too took time to talk with us, took some video 'tributes' and is 'just as sweet as he can be', as Chris had put it. We met so many nice people there for the same reason. We wanted to come and be a part of the 'final round', but we also know the best is yet to come for you and Mike! We were about 2 feet below where you threw your ball on Friday, heck of an arm you have! Missed out on that ball, but did get the ball from Yani that drilled me in the leg on your first hole. Mike said I should have let it go - DOH! Trust me, if I could have moved any faster I would have - OUCH! Thanks so much, to you & Mike, your family, Team Annika, and all the fans that made for such a memorable experience last week. Best of luck in all you do; you deserve nothing but the best!

[Golf54deciple]

Marge & Cherry,
Got the spelling right this time! Sounds like you two are jet setters!!

Perhaps Annika needs some company in her NetJets "dream machine". What do you say?

[Marg & Cherry (UK)]

Great idea from Golf54deciple! Always up for a trip to follow Annika.