LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – From one great golf champion to another, Annika Sorenstam offered a little friendly advice Friday to embattled Tiger Woods.
Don't come back until your life is right.
"He has some things to work on -- for sure,'' said Sorenstam, who retired from the LPGA Tour more than a year ago as the greatest women's golfer in history. "I do know you have to take care of your personal life first. It has to be in order, to be able to compete on that level.''
Sornestam was speaking Friday with FanHouse after an appearance at ESPN The Weekend at Walt Disney World. She and Woods once had a friendly, intra-sport rivalry as they competed to see who could dominate their respective tours.
Both were living in Central Florida, playing many of the same courses, sometimes practicing together when they were home at the same time.
She retired with 72 career wins on the LPGA Tour, including 10 major championships. Woods has won 71 PGA Tour events, including 14 major championships.
Woods announced on Dec. 11 that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence, not long after his own domestic issue that started locally but turned into a global story involving his multiple infidelities.
Woods' absence has been a major blow to the popularity of the PGA Tour. He recently made a television appearance to announce that his leave of absence would continue, leaving no hint of when he would return.
Sorenstam said Friday that she has not talked with Woods since his troubles began in late November after crashing his car at the end of his driveway. She has remained a close friend of his wife Elin, which was why she was reluctant to speak on the topic. Both Sorenstam and Elin Woods are from Sweden. And they knew each other before Elin and Woods were married.
"What we saw (from him) shocked everyone,'' Sorenstam said. "I don't think anyone can predict now what's going to happen next. I have no idea.''
Sorenstam left golf on a happier note after the 2008 season. She left to start a family, yet she has remained busy with multiple business interests that include a charitable foundation, a golf academy, a course design business and a financial group, all with the name of ANNIKA.
"Golf needs him,'' Sorenstam said. "I hope he gets everything in order. And I hope he gets back to doing what he's good at – golf. I don't think it's my place to say too much more.''
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