This Week at WorldGolf.com: April 18, 2007

With age, golf course design, Annika's tour career at midpoint of the second act

The story of Annika Sorenstam's golf career has hit the midpoint of the second act. At this point, Sorenstam has dominated women's golf for more than a decade, piling up 69 LPGA Tour victories, 86 wins overall and 10 majors. She's been named Player of the Year eight times, scored a 59 in competition and registered the lowest scoring average for one season on Tour.

But now, Annika is heading on 37. She was beaten out for Player of the Year in 2006 by Lorena Ochoa. She has begun putting more thought and effort into off-course activities such as golf course design. And now she's suffering from a bad back that will keep her out of competition at least a month, and possibly much longer.

Aside from that, when Sorenstam does return, she will return to an LPGA that has fundamentally changed over the past few years. Despite her bobbles recently and obvious signs that she needs to learn to perform better under pressure, no one is predicting any type of drop off for Ochoa. Still just 25, the reigning Player of the Year still has plenty left to develop in her spectacular game. Add to that the fact that the young guns of the LPGA are starting to impose their will on the Tour, with Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome proving themselves as winners. Add to that a depth to the fields, with numerous talented South Korean golfers, international players such as Julieta Granada, and veteran champions like Karrie Webb.

So even when Sorenstam does make it back, it by no means will be easy pickings for her to grab career win No. 70 on Tour. Add that one final issue: contentment. Sorenstam is at a place in her life where her off-course relationships and endeavors are becoming her full-time interests. She is at peace with herself.

So we enter the final act unsure of how things will end. Will Sorenstam ever be the factor she once was, or will she come back and add a couple majors and more accomplishments to her storied career to end the third act in style?

It will be a happy ending regardless, but golf fans are keeping an eye on the possibility of a storybook ending. How will things turn out for the girl from Bro Balsta?

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

South Creek at Myrtle Beach National:
a good warmup before taking on the King

The King still rules at Myrtle Beach National, the mega golf club just west of Myrtle Beach. All three courses here were designed by Arnold Palmer's firm and reflect his influence. And to make sure you don't forget whose house this is, there's a bronze statue of the King, and photographs of Arnie in every clubhouse hallway.

Photo gallery: South Creek at Myrtle Beach National

Caddies lift veil of mystery around
top-secret Wynn course in Las Vegas

It's sometimes hard to tell if that thing behind Wynn Las Vegas is a golf course or a CIA annex. The staff treats Steve Wynn's latest $500-green-fee course (he introduced that nice round number to Las Vegas golf with Shadow Creek, which he no longer owns) like it houses national security documents. Hey, it's Vegas. Anything is possible.

Also: Las Vegas' toughest tracks will eat up your luck

Cowboys Golf Club a touchdown
for Dallas convention group play

Alex Tis knows that Cowboys Golf Club is like Walt Disney World for Dallas Cowboys fans. There's so much blue-star merchandise and memorabilia at this golf course, you half expect Jerry Jones to sidle up to you at the first tee. (He does own the course, after all.) Tis doesn't care about any of that. His only interest is whether a club can deliver the experience his business associates expect.

Also: Read the latest golf blogs at WorldGolf.com