Sweden, a country of snow and ice, was long known for producing mechanical golf players who couldn’t play well under pressure – until Annika Sorenstam burst onto the golf scene. Often referred to as the world’s most successful female golfer, Annika Sorenstam has won 65 Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournaments, and has earned over $18 million, putting her nearly $8 million ahead of her next most successful competitor.
Born in Stockholm in October of 1970, Annika grew up yearning to be a professional tennis player. Although Sorenstam rose to the number twelve position in Sweden’s junior woman’s rankings, she was unable to overcome an average backhand swing and grew tired of competitor’s head games. Annika gave up playing professional tennis at the age of 16; however, she never lost her love of professional sports, and soon turned to golf as a replacement.
Annika found golf to be a better fit for her than tennis. Sorenstam’s analytical nature made her well suited for drills that made her golf game nearly perfect. She found mentorship from Swedish golf pro Liselotte Neumann, who won the U.S. Woman’s Open Championship in 1998. Neumann arranged for Annika to attend college in the United States, where Sorenstam could play on a university golf team. Aided by top coaches, Sorenstam had a huge year as a freshman at the University of Arizona. Her team took the NCAA championship in 1991, and was named College Player of the Year. After a similarly successful second year, Sorenstam qualified for the U.S. Open in 1992. Although she didn’t place well in the Open, her participation showed her that she was ready for a professional golf career.
Annika Sorenstam’s first years as a professional golfer were unremarkable, but the world started to take notice of her at the Women’s British Open in 1994 when she placed second, despite difficult conditions. She was named LPGA Rookie of the Year after a few more excellent showings. The following year, she achieved her dream of winning the U.S. Open, becoming one of the youngest people ever to take that title.
At first, the instant celebrity of becoming a U.S. Open winner threw Annika for a loop. It months before she entered into another championship. Once recovered, however, Sorenstam played with aplomb, winning events like the HP Heartland Classic and the World Championship of Women’s Golf and became the first woman to top the earning’s list in the United States, Europe, and Australia simultaneously. In the next years, her career continued to soar as Sorenstam seized the U.S. Open title in 1996 and enjoyed a string of flawless wins.
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Annika Sorenstam’s career faltered in the late 1990’s, with a shattering U.S. Open loss. Although Sorenstam continued to win tournaments and achieve high earnings, her record in the majors was poor. Realizing that she had lost her edge, Sorenstam subjected herself to a strict program that included drilling herself on putting, which had always been the weakest part of her game, and grueling fitness training including kickboxing, cycling, and 750 sit-ups every day. In February 2001, Annika returned to the LPGA tour more fit and more focused.
The change in Annika Sorenstam’s game was dramatically demonstrated with a record setting win at the Standard Register Ping Tournament, where she became the first woman break a score of 59 in a professional event. Later that year, she became the fourth woman ever to win three LPGA tournaments in a row. In 2002, Sorenstam achieved her goal of winning 13 LPGA events in one year, becoming only the second woman to do so.
In 2003, Annika caused controversy by accepting an invitation to play at the Colonial PGA Tournament. Many were upset by the invitation, saying that only men should play in PGA tournaments. The increasing media furor threw Sorenstam off her game, and she buckled under the pressure of huge crowds and criticism from PGA members. She finished her second qualifying round with a dismal 74, preventing her from continuing in the Colonial event. After that experience, Sorenstam announced that she would not play in the PGA again.
Her foray into men’s golf did not hinder her career, however. She continued a streak of sizzling performances, and became the first woman to participate in The Skins Game, finishing second with five skins.
Annika has had a dazzling career as one of the best women ever to play the game of golf. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003, has broken records like the lowest score in a professional round, the lowest score in a season, and the most LPGA events in a year. She was named the World Sportswoman of the Year in 2004 at the Laurelas World Sports Awards, and her 38 tournament wins since 2000 has placed her ahead of any other golf player, of either gender, of any level. Sorenstam’s current goal is to become the first woman to win the LPGA grand slam.
