TEEING OFF

Five things to look for on the professional golf scene:

1. The most memorable accomplishment in Annika Sorenstam’s career can be debated: the 72 tournament wins, 10 major titles. How about the only round of 59 ever recorded on the LPGA tour?

But, for sheer guts, it will be tough to top the one-over 71 she shot in the opening round at the Colonial in 2003. The first woman since 1945 to play in a PGA tour event, Sorenstam displayed opening-round poise and grace under pressure and dignity in the face of a few disparaging remarks. Making Vijay Singh eat his words is not, necessarily, a bad thing.

2. Final wrap on the Players Championship: Sergio Garcia won the tournament, but Paul Goydos won the hearts.

Garcia ended his 0-for-53 event winless slump but maybe, for the 28-year-old Spaniard, it’s never going to be enough until he wins one of those four major things.

This was about expectations, of course, with so much being expected of Garcia, still considered a budding prodigy, and so little expected of Goydos, a 43-year-old journeyman.

Will this appease the naysayers?

“Well, that’s up to you guys,” Garcia said. “I don’t write in the newspapers.”

Goydos seemed to thoroughly enjoy a final round that was capsized when he plunked his playoff shot into the water at No. 17, the infamous par 3 at TPC Sawgrass. Goydos still had plenty to smile about as cashed a second-place check for $1.2 million. There were other perks too.

“I got to be Tiger Woods for a day,” he said. “ . . . people were emotionally involved in what I was doing and people were unbelievably encouraging.”

3. A former Long Beach State student, Goydos wore a cap with “LB” above the bill.

No endorsement deal? “I’m not worried about what’s on my head, to be perfectly honest with you,” Goydos said. “We played for $9 million this week. I think I’ll survive.”

Goydos on how Woods would have fared had he played: “He’s got a bad knee, so he probably only would have shot 15 or 20 under.”

4. Will he challenge for the Order of De-Merit? John Daly is dropping hints that he may join the PGA European Tour next year after finishing 23rd in last week’s Italian Open.

Daly, who has dipped to 579 in the World Rankings, played on a sponsorship exemption and hopes to return for the Wales Open at the end of the month. Stay tuned: The British Open in July is at Royal Birkdale, where, in 1998, Daly carded a 10 on No. 18.

5. The San Diego Union-Tribune invited baseball star Tony Gwynn, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, Chargers Coach Norv Turner and retired motocross champion Broc Glover to play next month’s U.S. Open course at Torrey Pines from the tips (7,643 yards). The scores: Gwynn (119), Rivers (99), Turner (115), Glover (94). Par is 72. Glover’s score was respectable for a 10-handicapper, but the others left shaking their heads. “I’d much rather have a football helmet on,” Rivers said. Gwynn’s 119 matched the most runs he ever batted in for one season (1997).

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THE TOURNAMENTS

*--* PGA TOUR AT&T Classic *--*

When: Today-Sunday.

Where: Duluth, Ga.

TV: Golf Channel (Today-Friday, noon-3 p.m.) and Channel 2 (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m.).

*--* LPGA TOUR Sybase Classic *--*

When: Today-Sunday.

Where: Clifton, N.J.

TV: ESPN2 (Friday, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.).

*--* CHAMPIONS TOUR Regions Charity Classic *--*

When: Friday-Sunday.

Where: Hoover, Ala.

TV: Golf Channel (Friday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 3:30-6 p.m.; Sunday, 3:30-6 p.m.).

All times Pacific

Associated Press

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A SLICE OF LIFE

Annika Sorenstam, who announced Tuesday she was retiring at the end of 2008, on her impact on women’s golf:

‘I’ve seen tremendous change, and it’s really grown to an amazing place. I’m just very, very happy to have been a part of it and had a chance to follow my dream.’

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STAT OF THE WEEK

GolfObserver.com notes six players have used victories at the Players as a steppingstone to their first major title: Hal Sutton (1983, 1983 PGA ); Fred Couples (1984, 1992 Masters); Tom Kite (1989, 1992 U.S. Open); Steve Elkington (1991, 1995 PGA); Davis Love III (1992, 1997 PGA), David Duval, above (1999, 2001 British Open).