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Not Puttering Around
Annika Sorenstam is arguably the best female golfer of all time. She’s racked up 10 majors and made more money—over $20 million, not including those million-dollar endorsements—than any other. This month, she trades her golf bag for a briefcase. Can she swing it?
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Why are you leaving the game? I’m content. I’ve achieved more than I ever thought I could. I’m full.
You have Lexus and Rolex as sponsors. Now that the economy’s tanking and you’re retiring, are sponsors running away? I have five contracts that run out this year; three are already re-signed and two are about to be.
But I definitely have to do more for my sponsors these days. They get more for their money now, because they’re not going to spend it as easily.
So from now on, it’s all back-to-back photo shoots and marketing appearances? No. I’ve got my foundation and a fragrance line. I’ve got a clothing line, and I’m designing my sixth golf course. I’ve launched a wine label. I’m also hosting tournaments. I’m far away from retiring.
What’s it like going from a solitary game like golf to managing people in all these different ventures? In golf, I’m in charge of chipping, driving, and putting. That’s on me. I love my business team—they’re great—but it involves dealing with other people’s expectations, people’s goals and perceptions. It’s testing my patience. But it is fun.
What else would you like to do in business? The other day, I had an interview for a corporate board. I’ve been to three meetings with headhunters. I enjoy the networking. I’ve gone from not being able to say a word to all of a sudden giving presentations. It’s weird how life takes you. This is all thanks to golf.
What are you happiest to leave behind? The daily grind of practice. When I started playing, I just played because I enjoyed it. I never looked at my watch.
You’re a big investor. Where are you putting your money these days? I’ve saved my cash the past nine months. I haven’t made any investments. But before that, 95 percent of my money was in the market. Of course, I worry about when I stop playing golf—it’s my biggest income. I was hoping to live off my investments. It’s not like that anymore.
What’s your biggest stock-market loser? A.I.G. I’m a blue-chip chick.
You have Lexus and Rolex as sponsors. Now that the economy’s tanking and you’re retiring, are sponsors running away? I have five contracts that run out this year; three are already re-signed and two are about to be.
But I definitely have to do more for my sponsors these days. They get more for their money now, because they’re not going to spend it as easily.
So from now on, it’s all back-to-back photo shoots and marketing appearances? No. I’ve got my foundation and a fragrance line. I’ve got a clothing line, and I’m designing my sixth golf course. I’ve launched a wine label. I’m also hosting tournaments. I’m far away from retiring.
What’s it like going from a solitary game like golf to managing people in all these different ventures? In golf, I’m in charge of chipping, driving, and putting. That’s on me. I love my business team—they’re great—but it involves dealing with other people’s expectations, people’s goals and perceptions. It’s testing my patience. But it is fun.
What else would you like to do in business? The other day, I had an interview for a corporate board. I’ve been to three meetings with headhunters. I enjoy the networking. I’ve gone from not being able to say a word to all of a sudden giving presentations. It’s weird how life takes you. This is all thanks to golf.
What are you happiest to leave behind? The daily grind of practice. When I started playing, I just played because I enjoyed it. I never looked at my watch.
You’re a big investor. Where are you putting your money these days? I’ve saved my cash the past nine months. I haven’t made any investments. But before that, 95 percent of my money was in the market. Of course, I worry about when I stop playing golf—it’s my biggest income. I was hoping to live off my investments. It’s not like that anymore.
What’s your biggest stock-market loser? A.I.G. I’m a blue-chip chick.
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