Annika Sorenstam has become the most dominant women’s golfer and has transcended her sport to become a prominent mainstream athlete and celebrity. Throughout her storied career, she has rewritten the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards and events, and brought unprecedented attention to women’s golf. Her career has changed how women’s golf is played, watched and covered and she continues to have a positive impact on all of women’s sports.
Annika was born in Stockholm, Sweden on October 9, 1970. She began playing golf at the age of 12, but also occupied her time with badminton, soccer, tennis and competitive skiing. In 1987, Annika joined the Swedish National Golf Team and credits fellow Swede Liselotte Neumann’s win at the 1988 Women’s Open for heightening her interest in golf. Annika played in the World Amateur Golf Team Championships in 1990 as well as in 1992 when she won the Championship.
Annika enrolled at the University of Arizona in the fall of 1990 and won seven titles during her collegiate career, including becoming the first foreign and first freshman player to win the individual NCAA Championship. Additionally, Annika won the 1991 National Co-Player of the Year, 1992 Pac-10 Champion and was named to 1991-1992 All-American team.
In 1992, Annika was a runner up for the National Player of the Year Award and also finished second to Vicki Goetze at the United States Women’s Amateur Golf Championship. Annika was invited to play in three LPGA events in 1993, finishing in the top 10 in two events and earning over $47,000. She had four second place finishes on the WPGET (now European Ladies Tour) and was named the 1993 WPGET Rookie of the Year. By tying for 28th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament later that year, Annika earned non-exempt status for the 1994 season.
Annika burst onto the scene in her rookie year, with three top 10 finishes including a tie for second at the 1994 Weetabix Women’s British Open. Her stellar year was rewarded with the 1994 Rolex Rookie of the Year Award. The following season, Annika won three events, including her first LPGA tour title by winning the U.S. Women’s Open. Annika’s breakout season ended with her winning the 1995 WPGET Order of Merit, the 1995 Rolex Player of the Year award, Sweden’s Jerringpriset award (the country’s most prestigious sports honor) and the Bragd Gold Award for Sports Achievement (voted by the citizens of Sweden). To top off the year, Annika appeared on a Swedish postage stamp (3.50 Swedish Crowns).
The next year, Annika again won three events including the U.S. Women’s Open. She also passed the $1 million mark in LPGA career earnings and won her second straight Vare Trophy for lowest season scoring average. The 1997 season brought six more LPGA victories, a homecoming win in a WPGET event in Sweden and a second Rolex Player of the Year Award. In 1998, Annika won four events, as well as her third Vare Trophy and Rolex Player of the Year Award. That year she also became the first player in LPGA history to finish a season with a sub-70 scoring average (69.99). The two seasons saw seven more victories, her first career hole-in-one and over $6 million in career earnings. In 2000, Annika began a streak of six seasons in which she posted at least five tournament victories a year.
In 2001, Annika posted a career year. She won the Kraft Nabisco Championship, as well as seven other LPGA events, set or tied 30 LPGA records and registered a 59 at the second round of the Standard Register PING. She also became the first LPGA player to total $2 million in season earnings, winning both the Vare Trophy and Rolex Player of the Year for the fourth time. Annika continued her amazing play the following year, winning the Vare Trophy and Rolex Player of the Year awards again. She became the second player in LPGA history to win 11 tournaments in a season and set or tied 20 LPGA records. Her 11- stroke victory at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic tied a LPGA record for largest margin of victory in a 54-hole event. With her victories on the Ladies European Tour, Annika won 13 events in only 25 starts.
With victories in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship and the Weetabix Women’s Open in 2003, Annika became the sixth player in LPGA history to complete the LPGA Career Grand Slam. That year she won five other events worldwide, her sixth Rolex Player of the Year Award and set or tied 22 LPGA records. She won the Jerringpriset Award for the second time, was named the 2003 Female Athlete of the Year by the United States Sports Academy and was given the 2003 Golf Writers Trophy by the Association of Golf Writers. Annika received worldwide media attention for playing against the men at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, where she became the first woman to play in a PGA event since Babe Dickinson Zaharias in 1945. Although she missed the cut, Annika’s participation was seen as a landmark not only in women’s golf, but for all of women’s sports. Annika also competed against top PGA players in the 2003 Skins Game, where she finished second with five skins in a field with Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Mark O’Meara. Annika scored only the eighth eagle in Skins Game history.
In 2004, Annika had 16 top-10 finishes in 18 LPGA starts, winning eight events and was named Rolex Player of the Year for the seventh time. She also won two international events and broke her own single season scoring average record posting a 68.69. The following season Annika continued to smash LPGA records, becoming the only player in LPGA history to sweep the Rolex Player of the Year award, winning for the 8th time, and setting an LPGA record. She also won her sixth Vare Trophy and won 10 of her 20 starts, becoming the second player in LPGA history to win 10 or more events in two different seasons. Annika also finished first on the ADT Official Money List for the eighth time in her career, tying an LPGA record and won a homecoming event on the Swedish European Ladies Tour. Annika won the McDonald’s LPGA Championship for the third consecutive year, becoming the first LPGA player to win a major three times in a row. She also won the Mizuno Classic for the fifth consecutive year, becoming the first golfer in LPGA history to win an event five years in a row.
In 2006, Annika won the MasterCard Classic and then the U.S. Women’s Open for her 10th major title, which is tied for the third most wins all time. Annika also set an LPGA final round record, by shooting a 62 at the State Farm Classic.
In 2006, Annika opened up The Academy, her very own state-of the art, “boutique” teaching facility at Ginn Reunion Resort, outside of Orlando, Florida in order to share her passion for golf and fitness, along with her own personal coaches, swing instructors and fitness trainers.
In 2007, Annika opened the ANNIKA Academy at Reunion Resort and Club, outside of Orlando, Florida. The Academy includes a 5,400 square foot state-of-the art- teaching facility and three signature golf courses designed by Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. The Academy’s lead instructor is Henri Reis, Annika’s personal golf coach since 1987 who will focus on both physical and mental training. Kai Fusser, Annika’s personal fitness trainer, will help students focus on cardio and core strengthening exercises as well as helping them strengthen on-course focus and confidence. Annika also plans on leading clinics when available.
An eight-time ESPY award winner, Annika is also a national spokesman for The Make-A-Wish Foundation and will serve as the honorary national spokesman for the organization’s Destination Joy campaign that kicked off in 2007. Annika hopes to use the Academy to share her vast knowledge of golf as well as to strengthen her relationship with junior golf programs, The Make-A-Wish Foundation and other charitable institutions. In addition she created the ANNIKA Foundation in 2007, which provides inspiration to children in need through critical financial, physical and emotional support, and also helps aspiring golfers follow their dreams through scholarships, education and new playing opportunities. Annika represents Callaway Golf, Lexus, Golf Digest, Oakley, Cutter & Buck, Rolex, Kraft, and Ginn Clubs & Resorts.
In 2008 Annika was named an ambassador to the United States Golf Association. She has partered with them to make the game of golf more accessible and more relevant to players of all skill levels. In 2010 Annika was named a Global Ambassador by the International Golf Federation in order to help bring golf to the 2016 Olympic Games.
Annika’s love of sports was nurtured by her parents Tom and Gunilla and was strengthened by a healthy rivalry with her sister Charlotta. Annika remains close with her family, especially her sister who also plays on the LPGA Tour.
Annika has established herself as the most dominant women’s player of all time. After a brilliant 15-year professional career that saw her rewrite the record book in women’s golf, Annika stepped away from competitive play at the conclusion of the 2008 LPGA season.
Off the course, Annika is a very successful businesswoman and entrepreneur. As she embarks on this new chapter of her life, she is intent on creating a resonating impression in the business world. She now has collection of interests under her ANNIKA brand including her clothing line, wine, perfume, headwear and a golf academy modeled after the programs that led her to eight years as the No. 1 player in the world. In May 2010 Annika announced that she will be designing a new 18-hole golf course in Belek,Turkey, her first European venture and ninth design project worldwide. She was most recently named Golf Entrepreneur of the Year at the KPMG Golf Business Forum.
Throughout Annika’s many successes on and of the course, she remains a sincere, down to earth and approachable person. With her unrelenting drive, storied golf career, academy and charitable institutions, Annika is motivated and determined to bring women’s golf and sports to the mainstream.
On September 1st, 2009, Annika and her husband announced the birth of their first daughter, Ava Madelyn McGee and are expecting their second child in the summer of 2011.
Annika Sorenstam, Hall of Fame golfer, is available exclusively through IMG Speakers bureau for speaking engagements. Annika Sorenstam is also available for corporate hospitality events, meet and greets, golf clinics, golf outings, and much more. Please contact IMG Speakers at 212-774-6735 or speakers@imgworld.com for more information on booking Annika Sorenstam.
