DAVID AHNTHOLZ / Daily News

Annika Sorenstam pumps her fist after making a long birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Merrill Lynch Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club in November 2006. Sorenstam and partner Fred Couples finished the tournament at 18-under-par.

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GREG KAHN / Daily News

Professional Womens Golfer Annika Sorenstam talks with other guests before the 2008 Naples Winter Wine Festival Auction at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort on Jan. 26, 2008.

Terry-Jo Myers’ favorite memory of Annika Sorenstam probably isn’t one of Sorenstam’s.

“I always love the fact that I beat her coming back in Los Angeles,’’ said the Fort Myers resident of Sorenstam, who announced she would retire at the end of 2008 on Tuesday. “I liked watching that tape afterward. I see her just keep checking the leader board ... I’m sure she was thinking ‘How does she keep doing that?’’’

Myers beat Sorenstam by two strokes to win her second LPGA Tour event, shooting second- and third-round 66s to win the 1997 Los Angeles Women’s Championship. That was also when Myers announced she was playing symptom-free from the painful bladder disease interstitial cystitis (IC) after taking a new drug called Elmiron.

But Myers, who played the tour from 1986-2003, former LPGA Tour player Catherine Tumbleson, an Estero grad, and current LPGA Tour player and Naples High graduate Kris Tamulis all admire what Sorenstam has done for the game of golf — and the reasons for her retirement.

“Good for her, because life after golf is pretty awesome,’’ said Tumbleson, who played professionally from 2001-06 and has a 4-month-old girl. “I think she’ll really enjoy herself. She’ll be able to change her focus a little bit.’’

Myers, who had daughter Taylor-Jo in 1989, understands how Sorenstam’s desire to have a family wouldn’t mesh with her competitiveness on the course.

“I don’t think Annika would want to split her time between playing the tour and being a parent,’’ Myers said. “Something would’ve had to give and that’s just not in her makeup. I certainly don’t blame her. Any working mother, no matter what you do, there’s always conflict.’’

“She seems really happy,’’ said Tamulis, who’s in her fourth year on the tour. “She’s pretty much accomplished everything that she wants to. ... I think it’s wonderful.’’