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Becoming a Champion in Business and Life
Hall of Fame golf legend, entrepreneur, and philanthropist ANNIKA SORENSTAM is regarded as one of the greatest female golfers of all time, and has shifted her competitive edge to building a business empire. Called the “First Lady of Golf” by the PGA, Sorenstam is an in-demand speaker for her insights from her legendary golf career, which she transferred into a global brand of business ventures, and staying at the top of your game in any field.
Breaking Barriers as a Woman in Sports and Business
Legendary golfer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist ANNIKA SORENSTAM has been breaking barriers in sports and business for her entire career. As the first woman in almost sixty years to play in a men’s PGA Tour event, Sorenstam made waves internationally, and she continues to challenge gender stereotypes as a golf course designer. An ambassador for her sport, Sorenstam is a powerful advocate for equal opportunity, and shares her insights about developing a champion’s mindset and overcoming obstacles to exceed expectations in sports, business, and life.
Legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam is using her competitive edge to build a business empire
When Hall of Fame golf legend ANNIKA SORENSTAM stepped away from the game, she focused her tireless drive on turning her name into a global brand by launching ANNIKA – a brand umbrella encompassing numerous business ventures. The barrier-breaking icon’s ANNIKA portfolio includes a high-end clothing line, a limited wine label, and a signature fragrance with SA Fragrances. With fifteen years at the top of her sport, Sorenstam amassed over 90 worldwide victories, including 11 Major Championships, and continues her work as a ground-breaking player advocating for gender equity in the game. Notable in her business empire is her golf course design business, through which she continues to challenge stereotypes by designing welcoming courses that golfers of all ages and genders can’t wait to play again.
Throughout her career, Sorenstam changed the way women’s golf is played, viewed, and covered, and she aims to do the same for post-retirement female athletes focused on entrepreneurship. Her game and her growing business empire have been profiled in Forbes, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and she has expanded her impact with the creation of the ANNIKA Foundation, which provides golf opportunities at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Called the “First Lady of Golf” by the PGA, Sorenstam is an in-demand speaker for her insights from her legendary golf career, business ventures, and staying at the top of your game in any field.
Annika is often regarded as the greatest female golfer of all-time. During her 15-year, Hall-of-Fame career, she rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards, and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed and covered.
She has amassed over 90 worldwide victories, including 72 on the LPGA and 11 Major Championships. Annika holds a record number of Rolex Player of the Year awards (eight) and Vare Trophies for the lowest scoring average in a season (six). As the only female to break 60 in an official event, she has been nicknamed “Ms. 59.” Perhaps most notably, Annika received worldwide media attention when she became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA TOUR event at the 2003 Colonial Invitational.
Annika stepped away from professional golf after the 2008 season to focus on starting a family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses, which include the ANNIKA Collection of high-end women’s golf apparel and ANNIKA Course Design. In 2007, she created the ANNIKA Foundation, which provides golf opportunities at the junior, collegiate and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition.
The Foundation annually conducts six tournaments in the USA, Sweden (2), China, Argentina and New Zealand for aspiring junior girls. Since 2014, it has also hosted the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, an NCAA tournament featuring 12 of the top Division I schools that annually enjoys the strongest field in all of college golf. That same year with the support of Stifel and the Haskins Commission, the Foundation created the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel. It is given annually to the best collegiate female golfer. Over 600 girls from 60 different countries compete annually in these tournaments along with the “Share My Passion” golf clinics for girls ages 6-12.
Annika still tops the LPGA’s All-Time Money List. In 2021 she made her first start in an official LPGA tournament since 2008, making the cut in the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA. A few months later she captured the hearts of the golf world when she won the U.S. Senior Women’s Open by eight shots. It was her first United State Golf Association (USGA) event in 13 years and the victory gave her a fourth USGA title. What made it even more special was that her husband, Mike McGee, was caddying for her and her kids, Ava (9/1/2009) and Will (3/21/2011), were in the gallery to see her win for the first time.
Annika represented Europe as a player in eight Solheim Cups, as a vice-captain three times and captained the European team in 2017. She captained the European Junior Solheim Cup team to a come from behind victory for their first on US soil in 2021. Annika won the USGA’s prestigious Bob Jones Award in 2011, which is presented annually to someone with distinct character on and off the course. In 2013, she was named the "First Lady of Golf" by the PGA of America. In 2014 the LPGA, in partnership with Rolex, created the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award. It recognizes the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding record in all five major championships. In 2020, Annika was elected the President of the International Golf Federation which oversees golf in the Olympic Games. In 2021, Annika became the first female golfer and only the third female in sport to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Annika represents world-class companies like 3M, AHEAD, Callaway, Cabot Saint Lucia, Hilton Grand Vacations, Lexus, LOHLA Sport, Mastercard, Rēvo, and Rolex. Her Twitter handle is @Annika59. For more information: www.annikafoundation.org.
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