She is one of the greatest in her realm. A few years back, you could say she was more dominant than any other women's golfer ever had been. She never has been flashy, but she always is classy. So it was with admiration and some sadness that we saw her this afternoon annoucning she will retire at the end of the season.

It was a shocker, considering she had worked so hard to come back last year from a neck injury. She isn't No. 1 any more, not even close. Lorena Ochoa is as dominant as Annika was three years ago. Then again, Sorenstam did win the Michelob Ultra Open by seven shots Sunday, and Ochoa was in the field.

Maybe Sorenstam, 37, has just enough left to win one more major, make one more run at being No. 1. "I'm a huge competitor," she said at her news conference at Upper Montclair Country Club, site of the Sybase Classic this week. "I'm second on the money list and people who know me know I don't settle for second."

She used to happily settle for second. When she was a skinny kid, she used to three-putt on purpose so she would be the runnerup and not the winner. Why? The winner would have to make a speech. Her coach caught on and decided that the top two finishers would be speaking, so Sorenstam said she might as well aim for the top.

It was hard to imagine then that she could reflect so candidly the way she did today on her career, her life and her dreams (such as the second marriage set to start in January and, finally, the start of a family). It was hard to see her become such a physical force. She was at the forefront of the physical fitness movement on the LPGA Tour, becoming a rock of strength.

Her 72 career wins have her in sight of Kathy Whitworth's record of 88. Sorenstam said she doesn't care. She is proud of what she has done: 10 majors, a competitive round of 59, eight-time player of the year, six-time scoring average leader. She has even won three times in eight starts this season.

She was tough as nails when she had to be. Michelle Wie bailed out of the tournament Sorenstam hosted, citing an injury (but we skeptics believe it was because she was on the verge of a score so bad that it would have disqualified her for more tournaments later in the year). Sorenstam didn't let the then-phenom slide. She waited for an apology that never came and said Wie showed a lack of respect and class.

Sorenstam never lacks those qualities. Charisma might not be her strong suit, but she has respect and class to spare. Also guts.

Unlike Wie, who played in men's PGA Tour events as a marketing sideshow, Sorenstam played in the 2003 Colonial to see how she would fare in the crucible, to put herself on the anvil and become sharper. She handled herself magnificently, never had any inclination to do it again, and became a better player. Six of her 10 major titles occurrred after that week, in which she failed to make the cut.

I still have a copy of GolfWorld magazine from the following week, in which there was a two-page photo spread of Sorenstam walking to her final green (I kept it because I'm visible a few feet away, inside the ropes). Much more vivid was the memory of her first swing. Reporters got to the first tee an hour in advance to be able to get a spot to watch it. I'll never forget seeing how she was humble enough to exaggeratedly stumble off the tee as if she were having a breakdown. She also was good enough to stripe one right down the middle.

More than a month before the first tee shot at the Commerce Bank Championship, which will be held June 23-29 at Eisenhower Park Red Course, there's already one big winner.

Matthew William Solowan of Woodbury, 11 (which means he's not eligible to play in the tournament for another 39 years), was named the winner of the event's Poster Contest. The fifth-grader from Walt Whitman Elementary School was honored at the media day news conference this morning at Dave and Buster's at The Source Mall.

Solowan's was the top entry picked from among more than 600 Islandwide. "It sounded fun," he said. "I wanted to win the moneh for my school and I just love to draw."

Commerce officials presented a $10,000 check on Solowan's behalf to the Syosset School District and gave the youngster a Mac laptop and printer.

April 6
"The chip and run shot should be the backbone of your short game. If done correctly, it is the most reliable shot around the green. The average golfer attempts to pitch the ball in the air. The uncontrollable nature of the pitch shot makes it a poor choice, especially from a marginal lie.
"By landing the ball on the ground and having it roll as quickly as possible, your chances of predicting the ball's behavior greatly increase. For a simple chip and run style, the club of choice for me would be an 8-iron. Rules to play by - putt whenever you can, chip when you can't putt, pitch only when you have no choice."
--Rich Jones, head pro at Mill Pond Golf Course in Medford.

April 10
"Tempo is the most under-taught fundamental in golf today. True tempo needs to be something tangible, something that the student can work on during practice time. That means an audio stimulus has to be used. I use a music CD in a lot of my lessons that gives three beats. The first beat starts the swing, the second sets the club at the top and the third is heard at impact. Videotaping the golf swing while this happens gives the student validation that the club is in proper position. "
--Fred Moore, PGA professional, Golf Galaxy, Westbury

April 13
From Mark Mielke, PGA head pro, Mill River Club:
“Watching the Masters, you may hear swing analysts talk about how long hitters create lag or have a late release to maximize club head speed and increase distance. Many amateurs struggle with what we call “casting the club,” or a violent early release of the club at the top of the backswing. On the practice range, I have players try to think about holding the club lightly and forgetting about the club head. Swing the club back, nice and smooth, and in the downswing move your body, arms and grip of the club in that order. It should feel like you are moving the grip of the club to the golf ball. With practice, the club will release a little later, producing longer and more solid shots.”

April 17
"There are many variations to teaching chipping, but my preference is to teach a very dead-wristed shot with very few moving parts. If you spend some time practicing these shots you will learn how to control different situations. Place the ball at the back of your stance, more toward your right heel. Keep your hands slightly ahead of the ball to create an angle. Keep a slightly open stance, more of your chest facing the hole. Put most of your weight on your left foot. This will promote a descending blow as you go through the ball. Keeping your wrist locked, go through a putting motion keeping your hands ahead of the ball at all times."
- Guna Kunjan,PGA head professional, Harbor Links Golf Course

April 20
Mastering the uphill lie, by Rob Gick, PGA assistant professional, Sands Point Golf Club:
"Watching the Masters last week, we saw several uphill and downhill lies that are common to many Long Island courses. The first step to successfully hitting a ball from an uphill lie is get into the correct setup position. Get a feel for the severity of the slope, take your stance and try to align your shoulders and hips with the terrain.
"In this position, your back shoulder will be lower than your front shoulder, how much depends on the slope. Take a few practice swings from this position, try to match your swing path to the slope. It is a good idea to take more club than usual because the ball will launch higher and you will have to swing a little easier to maintain balance. Off an uphill lie, your ball will have a tendency to be pulled or hooked, so remember to aim accordingly."

April 24
"Most amateurs realize the fundamentals of a good setup are critical for a full swing. But those fundamentals are important for putting, too. To make more putts, you must start with the proper alignment. Use the label on the ball for guidance. To do this, mark the ball and reposition it so the label is aligned with your intended path. Next, once you are set up over the ball, match the line on your putter to the label on the ball. Trust your alignment and make a good, confident stroke."
--Len Bush, PGA professional, Brookville Country Club

April 27
By Bill Farrell, assistant pro, Plandome Country Club:
“So many amateur golfers have one common problem: they fall away from the ball. Watch the other players in your foursome. How many finish out of balance, on their back foot?
“I think there is a cause that is more mental than physical. It is a misconception that hitting the ball is the top priority, which causes many players to simply shut down the body once they make impact. Impact is only the halfway point of the swing. Using the idea of swinging THROUGH the ball instead of AT the ball, you will get a more complete swing. There is a reason so many practice swings are so great: there is no ball. Don’t let the ball be the focal point, just let it get in the way of that nice practice swing.”

May 1
: “Many competitive rounds are ruined by an inability to start off with a good first shot. Stepping to the first tee with composure can create good swings for the rest of the round. Take some extra slow practice swings, focusing on soft grip pressure and keeping your transition simple. Doing this helps make that first swing stay smooth, since most early-round pressure swings tend to be quick.”
--Jim Lusk, Head Professional, Seawane Club.

May 4

“Learn how to hook your putts. The straight-back, straight-through putting stroke is not physically possible and usually leads to a person swinging the putter left, with an open face. A putter is built with a maximum shaft angle of 80 degrees, so the putter must swing in an arc (the only way to go straight back and straight through would be with a 90-degree shaft angle). So don’t be afraid to swing your putter back and through on a little inside-to-out path. Hook it. The best putters in the world do it, and so can you.”
--Jeff Cowell, PGA Head Professional, Woodmere Club

May 8
By Michael Darrell, PGA Head Professional, Southward Ho Country Club

“A.W. Tillinghast was a brilliant golf course architect who often purposely misaligned his tees with relation to the center of the fairway. To ensure that you are properly aligned to every fairway, try starting from behind the ball to accurately establish your target. Then move to the side of the ball and proceed with your routine and swing.
“That is what some of the best amateur players in the section will be doing this week when they compete in the Havemeyer Invitational Tournament at the Tillinghast-designed Southward Ho course in Bay Shore.”

LI Golfbeat, April 10
Jimmy Tubbs, Hempstead Golf and CC, 10th hole, 187 yards, rescue club.
Frank Brown, Old Vine Golf Club, 17th hole, 172 yards, 5-wood.
Sally Scranton, Southampton Golf Club, second hole, 105 yards, 8-iron.
Harris Wellner, Dix Hills Park, seventh hole, 121 yards, gap wedge.
Cliff Burns, Heatherwood Golf Course, 12th hole, 110 yards, 8-iron
Colleen West, West Sayville Golf Club, eighth hole, 135 yards, driver.
Mary Walsh, Nassau CC, fifth hole, 130 yards, 5-iron
Elaine Ditzel, Spring Lake GC Sandpiper course, sixth hole, 88 yards, 6-iron.
Jack Martilotta, Cedars Golf Course, fourth hole, 120 yards, 8-iron
Ray Kessell, Smithtown Landing, 11th hole, 145 yards, rescue club.
Leo Varriale, Nassau CC, third hole, 195 yards, hybrid.
Robert Sturm, Colonial Springs GC Pines Course, third hole, 174 yards, 6-iron.
Harry Wager, Heatherwood GC, 12th hole, 120 yards, 7-iron.
Michael Matura, Mill River Club, 12th hole, 187 yards, 6-iron.
Glenn Bernstein, Village Course of Lake Success, sixth hole, 170 yards, 6-iron.
Chris Hawkins, Cantiague Park, seventh hole, 157 yards, 7-iron.

April 17
John McDonough, Bethpage Black, eighth hole, 176 yards, 5-iron
Rich Parisen, The Links at Shirley, seventh hole, 164 yards, 6-iron
Jack McMahon, Great Rock Golf Club, 16th hole, 161 yards, 11-wood
Sook Anderson, Bethpage Yellow, fourth hole, 130 yards, 6-iron
Joe Booker, Mill Pond Golf Course, 13th hole, 141 yards, 7-iron
Loretta Robitaille, Sunken Meadow Green Course, sixth hole, 150 yards, 7-wood
Jill Krueger, Inwood CC, sixth hole, 100 yards, 6-iron
Larry Janis, Village Club of Sands Point, 11th hole, 151 yards, 7-iron
Brian Cohen, Woodcrest Club, third hole, 170 yards, 7-iron
Michael DeLuca, West Sayville Golf Course, 12th hole, 145 yards, 3-iron
Barbara Broder, Woodcrest Club, 17th hole, 157 yards, driver

April 24
Tom Kontos, Indian Island Golf Club, eighth hole, 153 yards, 7-iron
Sam Albanese, Middle Island Country Club (Dogwood Course), third hole, 128 yards, 8-iron
Steve Scandura, Spring Lake Golf Club, 13th hole, 174 yards, 5-iron

May 1
Jim Quinn, Towers Golf Club, 13th hole, 165 yards, 6-iron.
Herb Friedman, Towers GC, second hole, 175 yards, 4-iron.
Mark Green, Towers GC, 10th hole, 165 yards, 7-iron.
Bill Dauscher, Bethpage Yellow, fourth hole, 160 yards, 9-wood.
Bud Sofield, Mill Pond GC, fifth hole, 169 yards, 5-iron.
Leo Murray, Eisenhower Blue, eighth hole, 114 yards, 8-iron.
Mike DiStefano, Holbrook CC, 11th hole, 127 yards, 9-iron.
Jason Sheehy, Glen Cove GC, third hole, 157 yards, 7-iron.
Mark Reilly, Colonial Springs Lake Course, fifth hole, 177 yards, 3-iron.
Angelo Castellano, Port Jefferson CC, second hole, 178 yards, 3-wood.
John Chabot, Sunken Meadow Red, third hole, 132 yards, 8-iron.

May 8
Joseph Mullady, Veterans Golf Course, ninth hole, 120 yards, 7-iron.
Peter Keeler, Douglaston Golf Course, 17th hole, 112 yards, 8-iron.
Matt McHugh, Timber Point GC, second hole, 124 yards, 8-iron.
Arthur Dodge, East Hampton GC, 17th hole, 145 yards, 4-rescue.
Richard Epstein, Oyster Bay GC, sixth hole, 170 yards, 5-iron.
Calvin Wilson, Tallgrass CC, 14th hole, 75 yards, 56-degree wedge.
Frank Ross, Pine Hills CC, 14th hole, 175 yards, 3-hybrid.
Donald Pugh, Pine Hills CC, 17th hole, 140 yards, 9-iron.
Kirit Dharia, Woodcrest Club, 17th hole, 175 yards, 3-hybrid.
Rich Burack, Pine Ridge GC, seventh hole, 114 yards, 9-iron.
Peter Popovich, Great Rock GC, 12th hole, 110 yards, pitching wedge.

People on the Golf Channel have been talking about this during Lorena's week off at home in Mexico, following that four-for-four run (talk about hitting for the cycle, this is much greater than the effort by unrelated Mets outfielder Alex Ochoa, who once hit for the cycle). It's logical because Annika Sorenstam played in the Colonial when she was as dominant as Lorena is now, and Michelle Wie played in several PGA Tour events in an effort to make a name for herself.

My take on it is that Lorena can play if she'd like. She is entitled to do whatever she wants. But I don't think she needs it one bit. Sorenstam did it to challenge herself and sharpen her edge for her women's major championships. It worked. WIe also did it to improve her game, and to burnish a multi-million dollar image. Check on the latter, a big minus on the former. Her game has fallen off the cliff.

Ochoa is just fine the way she is. She is a great player, having nearly qualified already for the LPGA Hall of Fame (except for the requirement to play at least 10 years on tour). She not only wins, but she wins by an average of eight shots.

More important, she seems incredibly comfortable with the person that she is. We know that because she was that way when she was losing big tournaments down the stretch. She is a tough competitor with a gentle soul. When she secured her first major win, she extracted a promise from her caddie to get the caddie's baby baptized.

Ochoa smiles. She makes eye contact with fans, proving that there is more than one way to be a dominant No. 1 (Tiger Woods prefers to remain steely focused). She doesn't have anything to prove by teeing it up against the men.

Kudos to Brian Hewitt of the Golf Channel for pointing out the one factor that would appeal to her: She possibly could earn more money, which would give her more money to distribute to needy people.

Still, I don't know how much she would enjoy the circus. She enjoys being Ochoa, the greatest female golfer in the world and, at the moment, the hottest golfer on any tour, any course.

I played in one yesterday and have been reflecting ever since about what a good experience it was, and what a good idea the whole concept of outings is. And this comes from a golfer who can be skeptical about this genre--I used to think it was just an excuse for people to get out of work and drink beer during the day.

Wrong. The event I played in yesterday couldn't have been better. The details: It was the St. Jude's Golf Outing for the benefit of the Outreach program at the parish in Mastic Beach. It was at Rock Hill in Manorville.

The weather was perfect, the course was in great shape, the organization of the outing was impeccable. Everybody was in good spirits, although nobody picked up on the joke when the pastor, Father Greg Yacyshyn, opened his pre-round remarks to the golfers by saying, "Now, I've got a sermon..." I got a chance to play with two guys whom I never had met, but who proved to be great golf partners. Play moved along, too, mostly because it was a scramble format. That was fine, too, even for someone who admittedly is hopelessly hung up on a final score. (for the record,we played as a threesome among foursomes and shot 72--not good enough for a prize but honorable, we thought).

It struck me that a lot of good gets done at these outing. There is comraderie, competition, some decent golf and much work for causes that need the backing. St. Jude Outreach, for instance, helps people who can use material and/or emotional support. That is, there is a spirit that gets generated every time someone writes a check to play in an outing or to sponsor a tee sign.

Thank goodness there is such a thing as the golf outing. Thank goodness golf is such a great vehicle for the goodness. Know that I'll try the best I can to let readers know about all the outings that come across my desk in the weekly LI Golfbeat columns.

Snedeker was in the final group with champion Trevor Immelman and when he eagled the par-5 second hole, it sure looked like Snedeker had a real shot to win the Masters. But he foundered, like just about everyone else. It all caught up with him afterward, when he was in the press building.

With just about every question, he seemed like he was going to choke up. I must admit to this: The Augusta member who was hosting that news conference said, "We have time for two more questions for Brandt." So I was the one who asked Snedeker just what the emotion was that was overwhelming him: was he proud, disappointed, drained? To his credit, he said "I don't have a clue." He pointed out that he had been laughing outsided. Then he just started crying, at which time the host just ended the news conference. And I took some heat from the other writers about "knowing how to kill a news conference."

Personally, I thought it was remarkably authentic and compelling on Snedeker's part. I guess he realized how close he was but that it just wasn't his time. His time is coming.

Even last week at the Masters, eventual champion Trevor Immelman, who played the first two rounds with Weekley, said he wondered how it felt to get booed all the time. In any event, Immelman enjoyed playing with Boo (and it obviously didn't hurt him Immelman). Most everybody enjoys playing with Weekley or watching him play.

He is a character in a game that can use them. Granted, nothing can make up for the absence of Tiger Woods, out after knee surgery for four to six weeks. But he does help. It's a kick to hear a guy admit "I don' t want to do nothing but hunt and fish." It's cool to think of a real average person out there, winning in a sport that has had an elitist label. Here's a regular guy, easy talkin' and chewin' tobacco.

He can be an inspiration. "I hope it's mostly the kids. That's who you want to touch anyway is the kids. And I hope they don't chew," he said yesterday in his champion's news conference.

There are people who think Weekley isn't really as much of a Gomer Pyle-in-spikes. They say he kind of turns it on in the press room. But fellow pro Heath Slocum, who grew up with him and remains one of his closest friends, says Boo is genuine. An outstanding profile in Sports Illustrated last week quoted people saying that with Weekley, "What you see is what you get." But the author added that Weekley determines what you see.

Well, we saw him start the past week by playing the pro-am with his mom, and finish the week by autographing a golf cart that will be auctioned for charity. Pretty dern good.

This is what you have to overcome to become a major champion: Battle your own nerves that are so severe you hit a tee shot in the water when the water is the only place you can't hit it; then hit a shot on 18 that happens to land in a divot. You just focus, and keep doing what you've done since you were 5.

Back then, Trevor Immelman said he wanted to be the best golfer in the world. And today he was. He held on through the back nine when his nearest competitors crumbled, and he won the Masters.

Tiger Woods, who never did catch fire or even have a spark all week managed to finish second at 5 under. He knew it was up to the other players to put pressure on Immelman. "I didn't do my part," Woods said.

Immelman tapped in for par to finish at 8 under and win his first green jacket.

Good for him, a good week for golf.

Thanks for stopping by to take an interest in what we had to say about it.

At this point, nothing would surprise me. I certainly wouldn't even be shocked to see Tiger Woods pull it out, even though he really hasn't done anything today. He started his back nine with a bogey that dropped him to 4 under, six behind Trevor Immelman. But who knows? A lot of guys have been leaking oil and springing leaks.

Brandt Snedeker looked great when he eagled No. 2, but he has taken a nosedive since then, making the turn at 6 under (he was 10 under after 2). Poor Paul Casey was right in the hunt at 8 under after three, but he made the turn at 2 under, having dropped six strokes in five holes.

The cliche about the back nine starting the whole thing goes back to a time when Augusta was more of a birdie wonderland, when players could go after pins and even chase eagles. These days, especially with a little wind blowing, it's a matter of who's going to back up the least. Immelman gagged a 30-inch birdie putt on 7 and stumbled to a bogey on 8, but did have a nice par save in 9.

Still interesting, though

In case you haven't picked the golfer for whom to root this afternoon, obviously, there is a case to be made for a lot of them. Tiger Woods needs no extra boosting; his brilliance his history chasing speak for themselves. You've read this week (I hope) about Trevor Immelman's compelling tale, coming back from surgery to remove a tumor that turned out to be benign.

Here's a case for Brandt Snedeker. He's a very personable, upbeat young man. He's got a good attitude on and off the course. During the U.S. Open at Oakmont last year, I asked him about a report that showed him being very moved by a PGA Tour sponsored visit of St. Jude Children's Hospital. I could tell by the way he just about got choked up talking about it that he was sincere.

Then he said, referring to his profession, "My brother tells me every day how lucky I am to be doing this." Snedekers demeanor all week testified to that.

Today is a beautiful day with some breeze. It's not the type that will make the pin bend, but it is the kind to make golfers think. And pros do say that wind is really the greatest hazard they face (a sand trap is nothing to these guys, they're so good out of them).

So it will be something to add a little more oomph to a day that figured to be really exciting anyway, what with Tiger Woods doing the hunting this time and some compelling potential first-timers up ahead.