Annika Sörenstam has been recognised as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the second year running. Although she played in fewer events than in 2003 she made every bit as much impact on the world’s stage.
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| Sorenstam won the HP Open |
In what was an average season for Sörenstam, she won ten times out of just 20 starts. She won a major; The McDonalds LPGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, as well as claiming more than $2 million in prize money, which was $1 million dollars more than anyone else in women’s golf.
Not only did she outshine the competitors in her own sport, but with 40 first-place votes and a total of 263 points, Sörenstam had 25 more votes than any other female athlete in the poll.
Diana Taurasi, who led Connecticut to the NCAA women’s basketball title and then captured the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award, finished second. She had 15 first-place votes and 154 points, two more than Russian teen tennis sensation Maria Sharapova.
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| Sorenstam at Evian |
It was Sörenstam’s consistency that marked her out as the clear leader as she continued to dominate her sport after 11-years as a professional golfer.
Her 2004 season wasn’t as eventful as 2003 when she won 11 times as an individual including two majors, completed the career grand slam with her Weetabix Women’s British Open victory, teed it up with the men on the PGA at the Colonial and played in the winning Solheim Cup team at Bärseback in Sweden.
But more importantly, in remaining at the top of the world rankings – and the LPGA Tour money list for the fourth consecutive year – the 34-year-old Swede proved that she is still the most dominant female golfer of this era.
“Naturally, I’m pleased with my season in many different ways,” said Sörenstam, “and especially because I’ve played less tournaments and still won so much.”
