Daniel retires quietly with friends by her side

Beth Daniel didn’t want a celebration or even a cake, and she certainly didn’t expect a crowd.

She teed off on the 18th hole at St. Andrews in early August, knowing it would be the last meaningful hole she’d play, her last significant tournament in a 29-year career that produced 33 victories, a major championship and her rightful place in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

It was her little secret.

Or so she thought.

“I’m going across the Swilcan Bridge,” Daniel said, “and all of a sudden there’s a camera in my face.”

Turns out that Judy Rankin, working for ABC Sports, caught wind of Daniel’s retirement and made sure a camera crew was there to capture the moment. When Daniel studied her yardage book for her final approach, she noticed out of the corner of her eye a small gathering that brought a wave of emotions.

Meg Mallon had finished an hour or so earlier and came back to watch. Juli Inkster had just finished signing her card and rushed back out to the 18th to see a longtime friend. Louise Suggs was there, too, one of the 13 founders of the LPGA Tour, who always had an eye for special moments. Daniel saw Mindy Moore, a senior vice president of the LPGA Tour, and Stephanie Louden.

There might have been more. It was getting difficult to see through the tears.

“It felt good that they would walk over and watch me finish,” she said. “It made me really emotional.”

This year has had its share of noteworthy moments. Tiger Woods captured his 13th major and his first FedEx Cup. Lorena Ochoa became the dominant figure in women’s golf. Padraig Harrington brought Europe its first major of the millennium. Seve Ballesteros had a tearful retirement at Carnoustie.

All were well-documented.

Daniel preferred to go quietly. She almost got her way.

“Beth doesn’t like the hoopla,” Inkster said. “She just wants to play golf. She loves the game. She’s a true traditionalist when it comes to golf. She likes things done the right way.”

The word on Daniel when she turned pro was that her swing belonged on the PGA Tour. Posted to the wall in the workout room at her home in south Florida is her swing sequence from years ago in a golf magazine with the headline, “Here’s a lady who swings like a man.”

“I’m not sure what they meant at the time,” said Daniel, 51. “If they meant it as a compliment, I took it as a compliment.”

“She’s one of the greatest players ever in women’s golf,” Rankin said. “She doesn’t love the recognition, but she should get it.”

Daniel still hits balls five times a week, and she will be seen plenty on tour the next two years as the U.S. captain for the 2009 Solheim Cup.

But she is retired from playing a full schedule, and that made it a quiet departure, just the way she likes it.