Sorenstam Reflects on Final Women's Open

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It did. I couldn't see it from the fairway.

Q. What was going through your mind at this point? You said it was quite ironic that it went in.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, it was so ironic. I didn't want to shoot 80 or above. And to hole a shot from 200 yards, that's kind of the last thing you think about. But obviously I'll take it. The crowd was just amazing, the cheers. When I walked up it was so loud, it was so much fun.

Q. Inbee Park has a chance to do something you did, making your first win a Major championship. Take us back to the Broadmoor in '95. What was going through your mind and what is she going to experience?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It's obviously a moment where you're very, very nervous, and you just really want to get the round in. I remember I just tried to hit the fairway. I just tried to hit the green. And just believe in yourself, and not try to think too far ahead. She's obviously playing some great golf today, because the conditions are very, very hard.

Q. She seems to have a very similar demeanor to you, in that you can't hardly tell what she's doing out there. The bogeys, the birdies, you can't tell too much difference in her tempo, it's so smooth and slow with every club. It's impressive. I always think that the players that swing the smoothest and slowest are the best under pressure. And she's handling this pressure perfectly.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Absolutely. That's a tricky shot, there. The wind was blowing hard left-to-right. And especially your distance control.

Q. (Inaudible.)

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: That's what I thought when I was up there. She kind of goes the other way around.

Q. At the hole it flattens out, doesn't it? But that's what you want. Your U.S. Open career is apparently over, what do you remember most about this as a championship?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I just think the courses that we played through the years, the conditions, the ultimate test. For me it's a lot of memories, too. I had three footers at home as a little girl to pretend it would be for the U.S. Open. I've played in 15, but in my mind I probably played in 20, 25. I'm going to look back at this week especially and just take a lot from it.

Q. Is there a chance that Annika Sorenstam might play 3, 4, 5 tournaments at some point a year just to keep your hand in it?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm not really sure. I am stepping away for sure by the end of the year. If I come back in a few years it will definitely be the Open.

Q. You've always been a very steely competitor. Has the emotion of this sort been a little more than you anticipated?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It's been a total roller coaster emotionally for me. I've had tears. I've had laughs. I've had -- I've been angry. You name it, I've had every feeling this week, I think there have been -- to finish like this, it's obviously wonderful, but I'll look back at this week and wish I had done a few things differently.

Q. You can step away, but don't go too far away?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Thank you very much.

Q. Always leave them wanting more, I guess? Is that what that was?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Living with another great memory, that's for sure. Maybe not the one I had in mind, but I'll take it. What can I say? It's been an emotional roller coaster all week and especially today.

Q. Are you happy with the way you putted today?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I actually putted well today. So I think today was a different story than the previous three days.

Q. What did you see clicking today with the putter?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think that the last two days I've been putting a lot better. When you work on something it takes time to change. And it's hard to change. In a championship like this where I would say the greens are what make the golf course. But I didn't have a choice, it was, you know, it changed for the better. So I just kept working on that. I didn't need much, it was just a few things and like I said today I made some good putts today. I rolled in a nice birdie on 14 and rolled in a few saves and that's really what I just needed all week.

Q. Talk about your emotions making the shot and coming up 18 with the crowd cheering like that?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: What can I say, I've never, never seen crowds like this and just -- I thought the roar on nine yesterday was big. But I think on 18 today it was even bigger. It was amazing. They have been so, so supportive and I was out there dragging and everybody just tried to keep me going and it's just, like I said, it's another wonderful memory. I didn't walk away with the trophy but to feel so supported and feel so loved with everybody here, it's just something that I'll never forget.

Q. Playing in your last U.S. Open can you talk about that?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think so. Yeah, it's -- I've always enjoyed the U.S. Open. I've always, as a little girl I pretended to have three footers to win the championship. And to come here and -- I played really, really well. I had a chance to win, just didn't finish it. And I just have a chance to be in there and feeling it, that's really what I live for. So it's been a great week.

Q. Palmer's signature moment was at Oakmont. Nicklaus was probably at the bridge at St. Andrews. You've got a lot left in this year, what's the likelihood that this moment will be the signature moment in your retirement year?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, that's a good question. I have another something, what, ten tournaments left. And I hope to win a few more times and I hope that those times will be the signature moments. This is definitely a signature shot. To break 80, you know. (Laughter.)

Q. Cristie said you mentioned that --

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: And it was ironic, I said the small little victories that you had out there. It makes a big difference. But like I said, I have several more tournaments and I would like to finish on a strong note. I am playing good golf. Today it did not happen. I was -- my tank is empty. We talked about that in the press conference. And you need adrenaline, you need energy. And I've tried so hard the last three days and I got off to a very slow start. It's just very, very hard to run on -- just on fumes. You can only take it so far. That's what -- that was my problem today.

Q. Do you think the emotions of playing in your last U.S. Open are part of what made your tank empty?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, emotions gives you energy to go. And that's what I've been running on for the last few years is just adrenaline and I made putts and that's what's kept me going. Even at McDonald's and this week, when you don't make anything, it's just, you can only take it so far. And today when I, like I said, I didn't get off to a good start, I just, you know, like I said, I was just so empty and I wanted to give something. I wanted to try, just I didn't have anything and that's why I think it was an emotional day for me because I wanted to give it, I tried, I just, you saw it, I just -- it just didn't happen.

Q. Do you think your career is defined by your U.S. Open play? It kind of put you on the map back in the day?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well the first one was the U.S. Open and I've had a lot of wonderful memories at the U.S. Open. I've also had some losses. Maybe that's what the tough championship is all about. You go through good times and bad times. It's just the ultimate challenge. And I would agree.

Q. Did you sign more autographs this week than usual?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I've signed a lot of autographs. But I think I missed a few. (Laughter.)

Q. (Inaudible.)

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, that was about three years ago.

Q. What was your yardage out there?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: 199. 6-iron.

Q. (Inaudible.)

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yes, I'm leaving Friday for Mexico and I'm looking forward to it. It's our third time we're playing the Skins Game. It's a lot of fun.

Q. The pulled tee shot on 17 and you hit it great on 18 there but it was so unusual for you to be hitting it awkwardly. What happened on those two shots?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm not going to analyze it. I can tell you that when you have nothing to give it doesn't matter how much you try, how much you want it, to play good golf you just need, you need a ton of energy and I just, in the end, I just didn't have it and it was just more because of my tank is empty. I've given it all. There is nothing left.

The transcript for the above interview is courtesy of ASAP Sports.