Black and White Golf Golfer

The History of Annika

Annika started her pro career in Europe in 1993. She did quite well in this less competitive market, and was named Rookie of the Year her first year as a pro golfer. During this year she also did several tournaments with the LPGA in the US. While she did not win any of these, she did play extremely well, and started to get noticed. She gradually began inching closer and closer to the top. At the age of 24, Annika realized her girlhood dream and won the US Open at the Broadmoor Golf Club near Pikes Peak in Colorado.

From that point on, Annika was an instantaneous star and faced offer after offer of endorsements and public appearances. She took some time off from the sport and after resting for a few months, re-entered the European tour. The United States remained to be the best place to play her particular brand of golf, however, and she continued to demolish the competition in every game on American soil. Her intensity and emotion triumphed time and time again and Sorenstam became the hot topic in the golf world for even the most casual of fans.

After her early success, Annika began to struggle when playing in the majors, both in Europe and in the US. In 2000, Annika began a strict training and exercise regimen, and by the end of 2001 was back at winning tournaments again. She again made headlines in 2003 when she announced her intention to accept an invitation to play in the PGA Colonial golf tournament, a traditionally all-male field. There was much controversy surrounding her entrance into the tournament, causing Annika's name to reach headlines around the world. She did not qualify for the cut, yet still made a name for herself by playing against some of the world's top male golfers.

Entered into the World Golf Hall of Fame in October of '03, Sorenstam was noted for being the first international women's golfer ever entered. Her accomplishments continue to stir around the world and, heading into 2007, Annika will host various LPGA tourneys and will even redesign the Patriots Point Links in Mt. Pleasant. All of this, and more, leads to the notion that there is still more to come from this electrifying player and we will see much more of it for years to come. The anticipation and thrill of Annika Sorenstam has only just begun.