Male: One of the most successful women players in the history of golf is Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam who was born in 1970 and got her golf into here at the Bro Balista golf course in Stockholm. Growing up, she lived about five minutes away from a course with her mother Gunilla, father Tom and sister Charlotta who also became a professional golfer.
In May 2003, Sorenstam conveys considerable controversy when she was invited to play in the Bank of America Colonial Golf Tournament at the PGA making her the first woman to play against the men for more than 50 years.
Richard: I think her weakness would be her patting and shipping around the green. The strength would probably be her ability to perform under pressure.
Male: Richard Nilsson used to play at brothers ball with Sorenstam.
Richard: If she will make the cut, it will be very, very impressive I think under the circumstances with all the pressure and everything. I think it would be very difficult to make the cup.
Male: Sorenstam is already giving back to this borders so far earned her over $20 million. In 1997, Petra Lindgren receives an Annika Sorenstam junior girl’s foundation scholarship. Petra support Sorenstram playing in each game. She does not want all times to be remains.
Petra: I think they are genetic things that makes us men and women aren’t equal but it means, I mean men are always going to hit longer than women and things like and I don’t think you can have like a tour where you play together really on the same circumstances but her playing this tournament, I think is a really good thing.
Male: The first woman to compete with men on the golf course was the extraordinary Babe Zaharias who qualified for the Los Angeles Open in 1945. Mildred Ella Didrikson acquired the nickname “Babe”” after Babyruth when she hit five homeruns in a single baseball game. She is often considered to be the greatest all round female athlete of all time excelling at baseball, track and field events, diving, roller skating and bowling as well as golf which she didn’t even take up until 1935 when she was 24.
Despite her lack with golf experience, she was so good that she was denied amateur status which led to her competing in the 1938 men’s PGA Los Angeles Open. She missed the cup but still delighted her legion of fans. By 1950, she’d won every golfing title there was adding together both professional and amateur trophies men she won a staggering 82 golf tournaments.
Annika Sorenstam has faced challenges of her own during her career. In the late 90s her career stalled as having achieved all the major goals that hunger for success deserted her.
Australian Karrie Webb became the top LPGA Tour player. So Sorenstam renewed her approach adopting a new exercise program including weight lifting and soon back at the top of her game adding 20 meters to her drive and process.
In the 2001 season, she became the only woman golfer to score 59 in a competition and in 2006 she topped the first ever official Women’s world golf rankings. As an outstanding professional she has ranked up an impressive list of champions. In her career to date, her scorecard details 86 professional winnings including 69 official LPGA Tournaments in 10 majors.
In the last couple of years, Sorenstam has begun to plays greater focus on life after golf with her real state activities and investments taking her more the time. Her Annika golf academy opened in 2007 and then a golfing instructor is her sister, Charlotta.
Sorenstam also looking to take together three of her greatest passions, golf, fitness and cooking under her own brand with the tagline “Share my Passion.” If a business ventures achieve half than of the sporting ones continued success for Annika Sorenstam is all but guaranteed.
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