Is Annika Already Planning Comeback?

Earlier this year, Annika Sorenstam announced her retirement effective at the end of the 2008 season. Scratch that - she pointedly didn't use the word "retirement," rather she described her move as "stepping away" from golf.

But anyone who heard her full remarks during that news conference several months ago came away with a sense of finality. It sure seemed like Sorenstam would be gone for good.

But perhaps it only "seemed." In remarks made from the site of the Canadian Women's Open, Sorenstam reminded everyone that she's never used the word "retirement":

"In my announcement, I said I was stepping away. I never used the R-word."

And wrapped around that comment were these:

"If I will come back in the future, I guess time will tell. ... I never used the R-word. That gave me an opening. But I don't have a timeframe. I have a lot on my plate and I’m excited about the next chapter."

Has Annika been watching Brett Favre? (Don't worry, anything Annika does will be done with far more class than was displayed by either Favre or Packers management.) More likely she's been paying attention to Juli Inkster and Kenny Perry, two late-40s golfers still enjoying success.

Sorenstam is getting married next year. And she has spoken often of her desire to start a family, so expect a baby to follow. And she'll be working on expanding her business ventures, including her course design work and her Annika Academies.

So let's say she steps away for, oh, five years - starts that family, grows her businesses. Sorenstam thrives on the challenge, on the chase. What would be a greater challenge for Sorenstam in her early to mid-40s than to try to win again on the LPGA Tour?