Fitting End

As we end our Callaway Golf Month Annika Sorenstam, Callaway's best staff player (in my opinion) has announced her retirement. When there was no Phil, no Big Easy, when Charles Howell II and Ty Tryon had yet to prove their worth, Annika was showing the Callaway Tour staff what playing like a champion looked like.

In 2003 Annika was arguably the best golfer in the world. She has been a credit to Callaway from the day she joined their staff. Her use of the 2-Ball putter was possibly the strongest endorsement that product could get and was very instrumental in its success.

I know from experience that our customers have paid attention to Annika's career. Unlike just about any other woman player in the LPGA, Annika has garnered the respect of male golfers who admire her consistency, her athleticism and her ability to win. They know she plays Callaway and have admitted trying the clubs she uses.

Morgan Pressel may develop into the kind of player Annika became. Paula Creamer has the spirit to win and Lorena Ochoa is certainly as talented. They, along with a few other women are making the LPGA interesting to follow in 2008. They all owe a big THANKS to Annika for giving us a reason to watch the LPGA events during the years when she was the only great player out there.