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Karrie Webb returns this week to the Weetabix Women's British Open, an event she won 11 years ago to launch a Hall of Fame career.
But much can happen in a decade. Webb went from No.1 in the world -- seven wins in 2000 -- to an afterthought in a winless 2005.
"It's been a long time where I felt like I've been close, and I'm just on the other side of playing well," she said earlier this year. "When I was playing really well, I was on the other side of the fine line, and things were going well. You don't realize until you're on the wrong side of the fine line how close you really are."
Webb has crossed the line. She took the final step last weekend when she won the Evian Masters in France. It was her third victory of the season and 33rd of her career. Twenty-three of them came in six seasons, 1995 through 2000.
After consecutive U.S. Women's Open titles in 2000-01, Webb was poised to be the face of the LPGA. But Annika Sorenstam responded to the challenge. Sorenstam has won 50 tournaments since the start of 2000, played a PGA Tour event, and earned millions.
The two constantly faced comparisons, but they were from different parts of the world, Webb from Australia, Sorenstam from Sweden. Each said the other was different, and therefore they were not close.
Webb says she became frustrated with the criticism and didn't enjoy the interviews and constant questions. Early in her career, she says, she took the game for granted.
"I knew that I didn't really enjoy winning and what comes with that," she says. "I don't know if it was because I was uncomfortable with sitting in front of (the media) all the time and being asked questions, (but) I didn't feel that comfortable."
After last year, she decided she wanted to feel the success again. This time, however, she was determined to enjoy it, to appreciate it.
Webb moved back into the spotlight in April when she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in a playoff. She followed in May with a victory in the Michelob Ultra Open. She challenged again in the next major, the McDonald's LPGA Championship, and lost to Se Ri Pak in a playoff. Still, she was making progress and putting herself in contention.
"I'm out here to win," she says. "I'm not out here just to make up numbers."
Like most athletes, her confidence returned once she began to put in the hard work that had led to her success in the beginning. She was always an accurate driver and a determined competitor, and she's showing those skills again.
Webb is first in rounds under par, second in scoring average (69.98), third in greens in regulation and 12th in birdies.
"I feel like I'm good enough to play as good as I did five or six years ago," she says. "But I think the difference is now that I might really enjoy it."
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