Annika Sorenstam’s decision to step away from competitive golf at the end of the year is entirely in keeping with the way she has conducted her outstanding career.

The announcement comes amid celebrations marking her 72nd victory since turning pro 14 years ago.

This is typical Annika – in control right to the end, determined to go out at the top. We can expect an extraordinarily intense race to the end of the season with current world number one Lorena Ochoa.

It is a mark of how dominant the Swedish Sorenstam has been that many fans would still regard her as world number one, even though Ochoa has been the major force for the past year.

But the tables are turning again. The 37-year-old Sorenstam is bouncing back. Her victory last Sunday at the Michelob Ultra Open was her third of 2008.

Last year was beset by injury and her powers waned. But until that point, she was the Tiger Woods of the women’s game.

Sorenstam’s stranglehold was every bit as strong as that enjoyed by her good friend and Florida practice partner on the men’s tour.

Woods would give Sorenstam short-game tips and they would be constantly texting each other after they enjoyed another success.

Their friendship is rooted in one simple fact. They were both cut from the same competitive cloth and have in common the same insatiable desire for victories.

From 2001-05 Sorenstam was almost unstoppable, winning an extraordinary 43 tournaments. She finished in the top three of 70% of the events she played.

This astonishing form posed an inevitable question and it is worth remembering that there was a genuine desire to see how she would get on against the men in 2003.

Of course it was a money-making exercise for the Colonial tournament, but she was so dominant at the time it was also a legitimate sporting question. Could she cut it against her male counterparts?

The answer was ultimately no, as she failed to make the cut. But it was no abject failure, Sorenstam acquitted herself well while the publicity she generated by having a go made her arguably the world’s most recognisable sportswoman at the time.

Her record career earnings are now past the $22m mark and she is due to marry for the second time in April when she walks down the aisle with Mike McGee, son of former PGA Tour pro Jerry McGee.

Sorenstam has made no secret of her desire to start a family and she has thriving business interests.

She says the time is right to stop playing at the end of the year and it is hard to argue. Her announcement is not a huge surprise, though few were quite expecting the timing to come now.

The Swede – Miss 59 as she’s known after becoming the only woman to shoot that magical score – has set up a thrilling climax to her career as she bids to go out on top.

And who would bet against her doing just that?