Annika Sorenstam retire? It seemed the LPGA would run out of tournaments for her to win first.

For nearly 15 years, during which she was eight times the biggest money winner on the LPGA Tour and only once lower than fourth, Sorenstam had an uncanny ability to making championship golf look almost easy.

It wasn't, of course. Far from it. Sorenstam's domination and 72 career LPGA victories have been the result of a relentless drive and laser focus that hardly wavered. She was almost unstoppable when she was on her game, which, as kindred spirit Tiger Woods had put it, was most of the time she stepped on a course.

For theirs was a shared pursuit of such finely tuned perfection that of an exclusive fraternity.

So, maybe, we shouldn't be surprised that she announced an intention to retire from competition at year's end. Anybody else would be satisfied with No. 2 on the current earnings list behind Lorena Ochoa while still knocking down a couple million bucks a year at age 37. Indeed, how many could walk away from the prospect of several more years of lucrative paydays and handsome endorsement deals?

But as her milestone 70th victory in the SBS Open at Turtle Bay in February — a comeback from debilitating injuries — reminded, Sorenstam was intent upon standing above the crowd not in it. Not content to contend, she wanted to lead.

For most of her career she has, even winning the Michelob Ultra Open by seven strokes last week. In the process she put a bright, competitive face on the Tour and elevated the women's game to an international following.

While we waited for the next young phenom, Sorenstam regularly made a statement about experience on the way to the bank. While the youngsters cashed sponsorship checks based upon far-into-the-future potential, the Swede helped carry the tour with many supportive but nary a covetous word.

Sorenstam has been a class act, someone worthy of the pedestal on which she is celebrated. That's one reason why Michelle Wie's controversial withdrawal from the Ginn Tribute, hosted by Sorenstam, last year struck such a raw nerve in the golfing community.

Wie withdrew with two holes remaining citing a wrist injury but was back on the range hitting balls after a day off in a gesture that smacked of arrogance and entitlement. And Sorenstam called her on it.

Come next year somebody will fill Sorenstam's place atop the leaderboards. Replacing her leadership will be a lot tougher.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.