Over the next few weeks, PJ Brown is taking a look at six former UA athletes and what they are doing now. Up Today: Annika Sorenstam, one of the best professional female golfers ever and an Arizona Wildcat from 1991-92
She’s really just like any of us — despite being the arguably the greatest women’s golfer of all-time. And, despite being a female athlete who, along with Serena and Venus, is recognized by her first name only.
Like almost everyone, former Arizona Wildcat Annika Sorenstam enjoys a good summer cross-country family road trip. In late June, she spent six days driving an RV eight-plus hours a day from Orlando to Lake Tahoe.
“There’s lots to see,” Sorenstam said. “This is not something we’ve done before. We’re not campers.”
Thankfully, Sorenstam experienced a much more successful version than the Griswolds. No animals or people were harmed (remember the dog and Grandma?) during Sorenstam’s trip.
Yes, the cat and three fish — along with her two children (Ava and Will) and her husband (Mike) — all survived.
UA alumna Annika Sorenstam says her passion is different nowadays. She recently played a round of golf for the first time since 2008.
This trip was squeezed into the former UA golf standout’s jam-packed life these days. She was in Sweden for back-to-back tournaments — the ANNIKA Cup for the Top 12 junior girls ages 13-15 and ANNIKA Invitational Europe for the Top 78 European girls’ golfers in the middle of June.
After July 4, she flew back to Europe for the Arnold Palmer Cup in Evian, France, and spoke to the women’s collegiate players who participated in the tournament.
This spring she added a somewhat different stop in her travels. She did something she hasn’t done since hanging it up in 2008 — she played a round of golf.
When Sorenstam was done playing for her career, she was done.
“When I was younger, my career was golf. Now my passion is different,” said Sorenstam. “Twenty years ago I couldn’t do what I am doing now. And now, competitive golf is not for me. I don’t need to play golf anymore. I have no time to play with my business and my family. And, I don’t have the desire to play. I am focusing my energy on other parts of my life.”
That round of golf she did play was with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player at 3M Legends of Golf at the Inspirity Champions Tour. If they invite you to play, you say yes.
“It was very special and I was very honored to be invited to play,” said Sorenstam. “To walk the fairways with them and hear their stories was great.”
Sorenstam admits to looking back at her career and being amazed. The Hall of Famer did win 90 total tournaments, 72 LPGA tournaments, 10 majors, was the only woman to shoot a round of 59, and was the first woman to compete in a PGA tour event since 1945, etc. And, she didn’t just win, her impact changed the way the women’s game was played.
“I do look back and think ‘Wow’,” said Sorenstam. “It was a whirlwind; amazing. Traveling all over and there was a great extended community focused on golf. I wouldn’t want to do it again, but I am thankful.
“I fulfilled my dreams through golf. I am very pleased with my career. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s a big part of me and what I’ve done.”
When it was time to retire and move onto the next chapter of her life, she admits the transition was hard, but it was the right time.
“In 2007, my neck and back started to hurt and I was forced to sit out for three months. I realized my time was coming,” said Sorenstam. “When I returned to competition I won an event and proved I could do it. I had nothing else to prove. Winning tournaments wasn’t a goal anymore. I didn’t have that hunger.
“I realized I wanted to put all my energy in family; my next step.”
“It’s like anything when you try something new: a lot of changes. My experience as a professional prepared me for the next step. It wasn’t set in stone how to do it. I didn’t know how or when, but I knew it was time to give back to the game of golf. I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with others.”
After a dominant stay with the Wildcats, Annika Sorenstam went on to win 10 majors in her career.
Today she gives back to the game through the ANNIKA Foundation that is helping to develop the women’s game even more by focusing on the next generation.
“When I give clinics I talk about life lessons,” said Sorenstam. “How important it is to go through different phases in life and college is one of them. They need a solid foundation. Continue to trust yourself; it’s just the beginning of your journey. I tell them failure is nothing. It’s a step in the right direction and you learn from that.”
During her road trip, June 24 was the 46th anniversary of the passage of Title IX — the law that give equal opportunity for girls and women to participate in sports. Sorenstam tweeted thanking Billie Jean King for her efforts in this area. Sorenstam is one of many who have taken the torch and carried on this work.
“Annika is a legend, like no other in women’s golf,” said Arizona women’s golf coach Laura Ianello. “Her work ethic established confidence and a self-worth like no other. Annika is monumental in how she is giving back to others and helping other athletes live out their dream.”
On her way to becoming this legend, she spent two years at UA. As a Wildcat, she won seven tournaments in Year 1 and was the first freshman to win an NCAA Women’s Individual Championship. To that she added an NCAA Team Championship, and was a Pac-10 Champion.
Annika says that her time at UA was special and has given her so many memories.
“It gave me an opportunity to golf all year round and practice on beautiful courses. We also had a good team that challenged each other,” said Sorenstam. “The top experiences I had in college: adjusting to courses and playing against some of the best players in the world. It took my game to a different level. I am very thankful for the opportunity. I had a great time and my teammates were great. I look back on that time. It was a lot of fun. ... It was a great learning experience.”
For the UA golfers that have followed in her footsteps, her being a Wildcat means so much.
“Annika is one of our top alumni with Lorena Ochoa, Marisa Baena, Chris Johnson, Natalie Gulbis, and many others,” said Ianello. “It gives us pride at Arizona to know that we are a piece of her puzzle on the way to ultimate success. She trusted a program like Arizona to help fine tune her skills before she turned pro after two years in college.
“I think recruits consider Arizona because if it is a place where the greatest players continued their success then it must be a special place.”
In May, Sorenstam was yet again one of us, watching and cheering on the UA women’s golf team as it won the national championship.
“It was awesome and I was very, very happy for them,” said Sorenstam. “It’s what you want to see. They fought hard and hung on and never gave up. That’s the team effort. The thing in team play is that every match matters. There can always be a few upsets. It’s never over until it’s over. You have to go out and believe in your team and see what happens.
“Sometimes all the stars line up.”
