Sorenstam feels the emotion of last visit to Evian Masters

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EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) -- Annika Sorenstam is determined that her final year on the LPGA Tour should not become a sentimental journey, but she might make a small exception for the Evian Masters.

The 37-year-old Swede, who retires at the end of the season to marry and start a family, will also play next week in the British Women's Open in her last major and final tournament in Europe, but it's the Evian Masters that is close to her heart.

"This is a unique event. Evian is just an amazing place," Sorenstam said Wednesday. "It's so beautiful. My parents always come here. I bring other family members. It's just a great place.

"It's just a lot more relaxed than other tournaments. So, this event I'll certainly miss more than other tournaments because of that reason."

The course is set on a hillside looking down on Lake Geneva and across to Switzerland, with French Alpine peaks stretching off into the distance.

It is the centerpiece of a stylish five-star resort hotel that seems entirely appropriate for an event with total prize money of $3,250,000 that matches the U.S. Women's Open.

Yet Sorenstam remembers the modest beginnings of a tournament she first visited in 1995.

"I remember the first time I played here, I think there was -- well, there were no ropes. There were maybe two spectators, now we have thousands.

"It's been great to see the tournament grow. It just seems to improve in every area."

That first time, Sorenstam finished second, five strokes behind Laura Davies. She won in 2000 -- when Evian debuted on the LPGA Tour -- and again in 2002.

"We love Annika," tournament director Jacques Bungert said. "We will definitely show her how emotional we are about her."

Among the surprises planned for Sorenstam's last Evian appearance is the naming of a part of the course in her honor.

"There will be an Annika's Place somewhere," Bungert said. "It is in the heart of the tournament and Annika is in our hearts."

Sorenstam, who is accompanied by fiance Mike McGee, insisted that she is first and foremost here on business, as she counts down the final events of her glittering, 72-win professional career.

The invitational field of 90 players teeing up Thursday includes Lorena Ochoa, who took Sorenstam's No. 1 ranking last year and has six victories on the 2008 LPGA Tour to top the money list with more than $2 million.

The 26-year-old Mexican said she respected Sorenstam's decision.

"She would love to have a family and I respect that very much," Ochoa said. "I learned so much from her and she has always been my motivation to get to the top and improve my game."

Ochoa has never won at Evian, finishing third three times and as runner-up to a teenage Paula Creamer in 2005.

The Florida-based Creamer arrives in France having won the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Sylvania, Ohio, two weeks ago for her third win on the Tour this year.

Newly crowned U.S. Women's Open champion Inbee Park of South Korea also will chase the $487,500 winner's prize.

Natalie Gulbis of the United States is defending the title -- her first Tour victory -- that she won in a playoff against Jeong Jang of South Korea. Karrie Webb, Wendy Doolan and Rachel Hetherington of Australia are among other past champions in the lineup.

Sorenstam will begin her attempt at a third Evian title in familiar company, playing with Swedish former winners Helen Alfredsson (1994, 1998) and Catrin Nilsmark (1999).

"That doesn't happen too often so I'm looking forward to that," Sorenstam said. "There are some emotions. But I didn't want to make this a farewell tour because I'm still focusing on my game, and I didn't want it to be some kind of tribute or something like that.

"I'm here to play, I'm here to compete and I'm here to finish on a strong note."