AS EXPECTED, she was emotional, her voice occasionally cracking.

Her eyes welled, but she held back the tears.

And as she thanked her sponsors, Lexus and Rolex, you could sense that she probably wanted a long-term commitment with them.

In short, Annika Sorenstam (left) cannot stay away from golf, the game that gave her fame, money and fan-frenzy.

On Sunday night at the Mandarin Oriental, after a magnificent tribute to the Swedish golfing legend, a dark-gowned Sorenstam lighted up the banquet hall with a moving speech.

She ended her speech with a wish to 'see you down the road'.

But will the road be one littered with golf events?

Or one packed with social gatherings, now that the golfing ambassador is talking about marriage and family?

It is too early to say.

Yet, if I had to garner any thoughts from listening to Sorenstam's carefully-crafted speech on Sunday night, it is that we would see her back in the competitive arena after a year.

The 10-time Major winner who has earned more than US$22 million ($33m) from golf is getting married to fiance Mike McGee next month, then starting business dealings including a golf academy and golf course architecture firm.

So at 38, and with golf as your business venture, it is hard for Sorenstam not to sneak in a competitive game or more.

As it is, she has admitted that it 'is scary' to be leaving a sport that has been her life for 20 years.

And while insisting that she is 'stepping away,' the Swede has left the door open to a return, refusing to use the word 'retirement'.

'There is a reason why I used the stepping away term and not the 'R' word,' she had said.

Comebacks

And she had added: 'We'll see what happens in a few years. If I am healthy and have the desire, then I know the door is open and I can always come back. I'll let time decide.'

Comebacks in sport are commonplace.

Boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman had returned to the ring after announcing their farewells.

So did cyclist Lance Armstrong and basketballer Michael Jordan.

And in less than three weeks' time, Evander Holyfield, 46, is making a comeback, ready to take on Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in a World Boxing Association heavyweight title fight in Zurich.

So why not Sorenstam?

After all she still has the quality game, as evidenced by her eagle finish in the fourballs on the second day of the Lexus Cup at SICC's Bukit course.

And on the final day, she beat the original Seoul Sister Pak Se Ri 3 and 2 in the singles clash of captains with a majestic display.

The golfing queen still has some good years left, and the golfing world would be poorer for it is she quits for good.