Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam Biography

Annika Sörenstam (born October 9, 1970 near Stockholm, Sweden) is a professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful female golfers in golf history. She has won 69 official LPGA tournaments including ten majors, 17 other tournaments internationally and tops the LPGA's career money list with earnings of over $20 million—$7 million ahead of her nearest rival.

She made history at the Bank of America Colonial tournament in 2003 as the first woman to play in a men's PGA Tour event since 1945. Often known simply as "Annika," she achieved the fame of malegolfers known in the same way: Arnie (Arnold Palmer), Jack (Nicklaus) and Tiger (Woods). Her growing off-course interests include the ANNIKA golf academy, golf course design and a charitable foundation.

At the age of 12 she switched to golf, shared her first set of golf clubs with her sister (Annika got the odd numbered clubs and Charlotta the even) and earned her first handicap of 54. She was so shy as a junior she used to deliberately three putt at the end of a tournament to avoid giving the victory speech. The coaches noticed and at the next tournament both the winner and the runner-up had to give a speech. Sörenstam decided that if she was going to have to face the crowd anyway she might as well win and the deliberate misses stopped.

After a coach spotted Sörenstam playing in a collegiate event in Tokyo she moved to the United States to attend college at the University of Arizona. She won seven collegiate titles and in 1991 became the first non-American and first freshman to win the individual NCAA National Championship. She was 1991 NCAA Co-Player of the Year (with Kelly Robbins), runner-up in the 1992 NCAA National Championship, 1992 Pac-10 champion and a 1991-92 NCAA All-American. At the 1992 United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship she was the runner-up to Vicki Goetze. As runner up she received an invitation to play in the 1992 U.S. Women's Open, where she finished tied for 63rd.

Sörenstam was invited to play in three 1993 LPGA tournaments where she finished T38th, 4th, and T9th earning more than $47,000. She finished second four times on the Ladies European Tour and was 1993 Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year. By tying for 28th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament she earned non-exempt status for the 1994 season.

The following season saw Sörenstam win her home LET tournament, the Trygg Hansa Ladies' Open in Sweden and three LPGA tournaments including the U.S. Women's Open. In defending her title she became the first non-American to win back to back U.S. Women's Open titles, passed the $1 million mark in LPGA career earnings and won her second consecutive Vare Trophy.

2005 was a landmark year in Sörenstam's life both on and off the golf course. The announcement in February that she had filed for divorce from David Esch, her husband of eight years, which was finalised in August did not adversely affect her golf. Her achievements included being the first player in LPGA history to win a major three consecutive years at the LPGA Championship and the first golfer in LPGA or PGA history to win the same event five consecutive years at the Mizuno Classic. 11 wins in 21 tournaments entered worldwide included victory in the Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika where she presented herself the trophy, giving her an eighth Moneylist title (tying the LPGA record), an eighth RolexPlayer of the Year (POY) award (a record) and a sixth Vare Trophy. She is the only LPGA player ever to win Moneylist, POY award and Vare trophy in the same year in 5 different years. Team competition saw her make her seventh consecutive Solheim Cup appearance, her 4 points making her total 21, the event's all-time leading points earner, and the inaugural Lexus Cup was played with Sörenstam as the Captain of the victoriuos International Team.Annika at the Women's British Open 2004

Annika Sorenstam has begun the transition from professional golfer to entrepreneur, hoping to combine her three major passions—golf, fitness and cooking—into various businesses under the ANNIKA brand with the brand statement "Share my Passion.

Sörenstam, who first thought of opening an academy in 2002, began construction on the ANNIKA Academy at Ginn Reunion Resort in 2006. The Academy opened in April 2007, with Sörenstam's longtime coach Henri Reis serving as head instructor, her sister Charlotta an instructor and club fitter and her personal trainer Kai Fusser focusing on overall fitness training geared toward improving students' golf skills. The academy will offer a number of "Soren-Slam Packages" that includes playing golf with the academy owner. The opening included a Make-A-Wish Foundation golf clinic conducted by Sörenstam who is a United States ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

1998
- LPGA Tour Player of the Year (3)
- LPGA Tour Money Winner (3)
- LPGA Vare Trophy (3)
- Swedish Golfer of the Year (4)
- ESPY Awards Best Female Golfer (2)

2001
- Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year (4)
- LPGA Tour Player of the Year (4)
- LPGA Tour Money Winner (4)
- LPGA Vare Trophy (3)
- LPGA Crowne Plaza Achievement Award
- Swedish Golfer of the Year (5)