Annika Sorenstam argues to the contrary, but when the Swede announced last month that she would retire at the end of the season, the rest of the year took on the look of a farewell tour for the former world No1.

That Sorenstam had returned to form after a 2007 season wrecked by a neck injury added to the poignancy of the moment, but she knew that she had passed the baton as the world's leading player to Lorena Ochoa, of Mexico - and was not getting it back.

But while Ochoa has become the sport's dominant force - winning six of the nine tournaments she has played on the LPGA Tour this year - Sorenstam, who has won three times, is not about to go quietly. She has won ten major championships and wants at least one more before she leaves the stage. And with three majors to play, beginning today with the McDonald's LPGA Championship here at Bulle Rock, the world No2 is confident.

In 2005, much of the talk was about Sorenstam's quest for a grand slam of four major championships. She won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California, and then left Bulle Rock with the second. But she slipped up at the US Women's Open and the chance had gone.

Now it is Ochoa, who won her second major in Palm Springs in April (the first was the Women's British Open at St Andrews last year), with the feat in her sights. “Of course, I think it's possible,” the 26-year-old said. “I'm going to give it a good try.”

Sorenstam, though, fears no one and if she gets on a roll, she could take some stopping. So, with retirement beckoning, will she miss the cut and thrust of competitive golf? “I want to get married and start a family,” she said. “I've been living golf, eating golf, sleeping golf and now it's time to do something else.”

First, though, there are a few tournaments to be won.