 Sorenstam helped Sweden win last year's World Cup |
Annika Sorenstam has been ruled out of action for at up to six weeks because of a ruptured disc in her back. The 36-year-old world number one has pulled out of the Ginn Open in Florida and will see a specialist in Miami.
"I've been playing with quite a bit of pain for several weeks. I couldn't take it much more and decided it was time to see someone," said the Swede.
She could return at the Ginn Tribute, a new tournament which she will host from 31 May in South Carolina.
"We're hoping that this is a four-to-six-week process, but everybody reacts differently, as you all know, to rehab and medication," said Sorenstam's agent Mark Steinberg.
Sorenstam, who has won 69 times on the LPGA Tour, opened her Annika Academy at the Ginn Reunion Resort on Monday.
"I'm so proud of this place. This is really what I envisioned," she said.
"I'm part of it. It's not just here's my name, please put a building up and let's have some golf and some fitness. This is really me.
"I'm quite hands-on. I micromanage sometimes a little too much. I actually answer the phone sometimes and I say, 'Hi, this is Annika'.
"They can't believe that I'm answering the phone."
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