Now, she has serious intention to attend the Champions Challenge. It would be the last chance for Simkins, the president of the Utah State Women's Golf Association, and other golf fans to see the greatest women's golfer in history tee it up in Utah.

Annika Sorenstam announced Tuesday that she will retire at the end of this season, ending an LPGA Tour career in which she has won 72 tournaments to date and delivered a defining moment in sports history when she teed it up against the men on the PGA Tour. Though she hinted for the past several seasons about retirement, the news had a big effect on the sport all across the country - as well in Utah, where many golfers have been influenced by Sorenstam.

"I'm totally surprised," Simkins said. "It's a shame. She's comparable to Tiger Woods."

The 37-year-old Sorenstam held a press conference Tuesday at Clifton, N.J., where she's competing in the Sybase Classic, and said she wanted to devote more time to her growing business and to start a family. She is engaged to Mike McGee, son of former PGA Tour player Jerry McGee.

Sue Nyhus, the Brigham Young women's golf coach, said she understands how difficult it is to have a golf career and a family at the same time. Nyhus too was totally shocked by the news, adding, "I don't think anyone else could do what Annika was able to do."

"From meeting her and watching her," Nyhus said, "she's a very intelligent and dedicated athlete. That's part of the reason why she decided to retire. It's hard for her to play part time because she's so driven. I think that might be part of the reason."

Sorenstam dominated women's golf like few others, especially during a five-year period when she won 43 times and finished among the top three nearly 70 percent of the time. But for all her achievements - the only woman to shoot 59, 10 majors and one of six women to complete the career Grand Slam, in addition to being in the World Golf Hall of Fame - she became most famous for testing herself against the men. At the Colonial tournament in 2003, she was the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour, though she missed the cut.

Tiger Woods called Sorenstam "the greatest female golfer of all time." LPGA player and close friend Natalie Gulbis said life on the tour will be "a little different" without Sorenstam.

Sorenstam's final event will be the Dubai Ladies Masters after the LPGA Tour season ends. Before then she's scheduled to make an appearance at the Champions Challenge next month in Lehi, representing her charity, the ANNIKA golf academy.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

csun@sltrib.com

Champions Challenge

June 16-17

At Thanksgiving Point Golf Course, Lehi