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Golf Legend Drops Truth About Caitlin Clark's Fairway Foray

Golf icon Annika Sorenstam spoke about Caitlin Clark competing in her namesake LPGA Pro-Am.
Nov 13, 2024; Belleair, Florida, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) participates in The Annika golf tournament Pro Am at Pelican Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nov 13, 2024; Belleair, Florida, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) participates in The Annika golf tournament Pro Am at Pelican Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is taking part in "The Annika" LPGA Pro-Am golf tournament in Florida on November 12. This marks the second straight year that Clark is participating in the tournament, which is the best opportunity that her massive fan base has to see her compete since she suffered a groin injury in the middle of July that ultimately kept her out for the rest of the 2025 WNBA season.

While Clark's participation in last year's event wasn't all smooth sailing from her golf standpoint, her appearance and inclusion in the Pro-Am was a major win for the sport of golf. It brought a ton of new eyes to the sport and added a level of interest from the women's basketball community that would not have been there if she hadn't corralled her clubs and hit the fairway.

Nobody understands this better than golf legend Annika Sorenstam, who is the host and namesake for "The Annika" event.

Augusta National Golf Club member Annika Sorenstam on April 6, 2025
Apr 6, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Augusta National Golf Club member Annika Sorenstam during the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Annika Sorenstam Speaks on Caitlin Clark's Golf Event Inclusion

Sorenstam (who has 72 LPGA Tour wins and 10 major championship wins in her iconic career) did a November 10 interview with the Golf Channel. And the first few questions she was asked pertained to No. 22.

"She adds so much to the tournament," Sorenstam said when asked about the value of Clark's presence in the tournament. "I really didn't know what to expect last year. I mean, she's [the] talk of the town, and such a superstar in a lot of ways. She added so much excitement to the tournament; we had a lot of people come out, they were standing on the first tee at 7 AM, waiting for her to see that first shot.

"But just her engagement with the fans, and her being so relatable, and I don't know. She loves the game of golf," Sorenstam continued of Clark. "And I'm so glad that she wanted to come back because, you know, it brings more people to the game, brings more people to the tournament, and that's really what we're looking for."

Sorenstam later added, "We're making sure everybody can enjoy her presence, and being part of the tournament. We just didn't really know what to expect last year, and I think the response was very positive. So now we're trying to make sure that everybody gets a piece of it, and also that she can enjoy it, and feel like she's having a good time."

"We have so many young girls out there on that Wednesday just wanting to sign, you know, an autograph, where they brought you a basketball, or a hat, or something. It was just nice to see a new demographic enter the golf course."

Women's basketball fans are used to the sight of Clark being hounded for autographs and other fan interactions. And they'll surely get to see that on the golf course once again on Wednesday.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers women’s basketball for Women’s Fastbreak and Indiana Fever On SI. His coverage centers on league trends and the growth of women’s basketball, both on and off the court. He also creates digital content focused on the sport’s biggest moments and personalities.

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