Coming to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow takes a lot of heart, courage and a brain.

Annika Sorenstam began playing golf in 1982 at the young age of 12 in the way off land of Sweden. She followed the green fairways to a successful amateur career. In 1992, she was the World Amateur Champion, a runner-up in the U. S. Women’s Amateur, and the second-lowest amateur in that year’s U. S. Women’s Open. She won seven golf titles at the collegiate level while at the University of Arizona as well as being the 1991 Co-College Player of the Year and NCAA champion, and the runner-up in the 1992 NCAA championship. She was the PAC-10 champion and 1991-92 NCAA All-American.

Sorenstam joined the LPGA tour in 1994 and captured the “Rolex Rookie of the Year” title after playing in three tour tournaments the previous year. In 1995, she won Sweden’s most prestigious award in sports, the “Athlete of the Year.”

Her career records and wins have set or tied 30 LPGA records. When you read about her accomplishments, it becomes a little dizzying. The numbers swirl in your head like a tornado.

She has been the LPGA player to win $1 million the fastest in a single-season (10 events). She and Karrie Webb tie for winning $1million in four separate seasons. Last year, she won $2,105,868 setting an LPGA record for winning more than $2 million in a single season.

Last year, Annika’s goal was to regain the position of being the top-ranked women’s professional golfer in the world. To win the “2001 Rolex Player of the Year” title meant she had to adhere to a hard training schedule, spend lots of time on the practice range, and use her time wisely like she had done to win in previous years.

“Winning Rolex Player of the Year means the world to me,” Sorenstam said after she won the CISCO World Ladies Match Play Championship with a 1-up win over Se Ri Pak. “It has been an incredible year for me with the records I have set, and I have won more tournaments than I ever have before. I worked hard this winter, harder than ever, and it’s a dream come true. It is very exciting.” During 2001, she won eight tournaments, placed second six times, finished in the top-10 for 19 tournaments to capture the title of “Rolex Player of the Year.” Her eight-tournament win tied the winning streak with Nancy Lopez who recorded eight wins in 1979.

Sorenstam also won the Rolex Player of the Year in 1995, 1997 and 1998. She and two other LPGA players have won the title four times or more: Kathy Whitworth – 8; Nancy Lopez – 4.

For these same years, including 2001, she joined Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright for the top season-ending money list honors four times or more: Kathy Whitworth – 8 and Mickey Wright – 4. Her Vare Trophy (a part of the Triple Crown win of the three titles) win was her fourth. Again, placing her in the ranks of Whitworth (7), Wright (5) and JoAnne Carner (5).

Winning honors did not stop there. The Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) selected Sorenstam as its 2001 LPGA Player of the Year. In addition to the tournament and money titles, she shot the first 59 in the history of the LPGA during the second round of the Standard Register PING. She had 13 birdies (eight in a row) for a new LPGA record.

When the print magazine went to press, Annika had played nine events, winning her 35th career championship and the fourth of the season. At the inaugural Kellogg-Keebler Classic in Aurora, IL, she won with a 21-under-par 195 for the tournament. (63-67-65=195[-21]) This tied the record set by Wendy Ward in 2001 for 54-holes. “Obviously, I’m very pleased with the way I played this week,” Sorenstam said. “I was not expecting to finish 21-under. I hit the ball really well and my distance control is back. I putted well too, so all parts of my game have come together.”

Like the Tin Man she, too, seemed a little rusty in spots when all the parts of her game didn’t work at the same time earlier in the season. “I putted well or hit the ball well, but didn’t do it at the same time like this week.” “This week, the way I hit it was as good as I have in a long time.”

No Wizardry or Magic is Needed

With the way Sorenstam is winning, questions about her winning the “Grand Slam” are flying in the air.

Only two players in the history of the LPGA since it was founded in 1950 have won the major championships for the “Grand Slam.” Babe Zaharias won three majors: U.S. Open, Titleholders and Western Open in 1950. Sandra Haynie won the 1975 Grand Slam with the U.S. Women’s Open and LPGA Championship when there were only two major tournaments. Mickey Wright, Pat Bradley and Kathy Whitworth almost won the Grand Slam during a season.

Beginning in 2001, there are four major tournaments in the Grand Slam: the Nabisco Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open, the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by AIG and the Weetabix Women’s British Open. There is an exception to the rule concerning the Weetabix tournament, which I will not even try to explain. In any event, winning the Grand Slam is a challenge.

Does Annika think she can win the Grand Slam? As she goes into the second major (McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by AIG), she thinks it is possible. “Of course I would like to. . . I peaked this week, so hopefully it stays around another week. Of course I’ve thought about the Grand Slam, but next week is another tournament. You’ve got to think one shot at a time and try not to get too far ahead of yourself.”

With Annika’s heart, courage and brain, we know she can accomplish whatever she sets out to do.

Just click your heels like Dorothy

Annika has been sporting a dazzling pair of red golf shoes designed by Nike. Even before the shoes will hit the stores in September, Nike Golf will take 150 pairs to the U. S. Women’s Open Championship on July 4-7 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. The shoes were worn for the first time when Annika played in the Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rarncho Mirage, CA. in April. Winning the tournament didn’t hurt creating awareness of the new ruby slippers.

The rest of us, though, will have to wait until September to try the new shoe: Nike Golf’s Verdana Slip-on’s in Ruby Red. Nike says they are “full of features specifically designed for women golfers. Starting with the fit, tapered in the heel, but allowing enough room in the forefoot.” These “slip-on’s” are lighter due to the sleek design and 100% waterproof.

from Ladies Golf Journey - 2001

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