The Week According to Annika: "Proud. Satisfied. Exciting
By Doug Milne
BELLEAIR, Fla. – Late Friday afternoon as the sun was losing its prominence over Pelican Golf Club, a comment from an excited young female fan to her equally surprised mother largely defined the overall vibe and success of this week’s The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
“Look at Annika over there, just walking around like a regular fan,” the little girl said, pointing at the tournament host casually strolling the general population’s designated stomping grounds. “She’s right out here in the middle of all of us without any security, like she’s not even famous. I wonder if she’s lost.”
The 72-time LPGA champion was anything but in the rough this past week. She knew precisely where she was and what she was doing as she purposefully made her way through the star-struck gallery, smiling and speaking to fans and volunteers…as if they were the famous ones.
That’s who the World Golf Hall of Fame member is. And, when that kind of style, grace and gratitude gets paired with an equally compelling title sponsor, like Gainbridge, it becomes clear that Linn Grant isn’t the week’s only winner, but rather the final of this week’s countless winners.
“I'm super proud…super proud of Linn to be here,” Sorenstam said. “This is one of the top tournaments on the LPGA, especially this time of year: limited field and everybody is ready to get some points for next week. You can climb up the leaderboard, or whether it's Rookie of the Year or Player of the Year, there was a lot at stake here this week, so we know the competition is really tough.”
Additionally, and outside of the ropes, everything from clinics, luncheons, hospital patient visits and military involvement, the broad reach and exposure to the game the ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican delivered on is commendable.
“A lot of things aligned beautifully this week,” Sorenstam said. “From - starting the day with the winner - the weather, the people, the initiatives, engagement…everything. All the different activities that were planned with sponsor invites, with Caitlin Clark. It was all very special and pleasing.”
And, as for ever being “lost?”
“No, I wasn't lost out there,” Sorenstam laughed. “I walked around every part of the course just because I love to be here. Also, to be able to connect with sponsors, players and caddies and fans or whatever….that's the best way to get a feel for the tournament.”
When asked to sum up her overall takeaway from this week’s ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, the words the tournament host chose without hesitation were “proud, satisfied and excited.”
“There is a calmness right now, just because I feel like the week went the way we had hoped and planned. I just had really a good feeling,” Sorenstam said. “I know the Doyle family felt the same way. It just feels good. So, yeah, I'll be putting my head on my pillow with a smile on my face. I do know I'll be sleeping well tonight, I can tell you that. The alarm will not go off that early tomorrow.”
