University of Minnesota Athletics
Q&A with Annika Sorenstam
9/13/2019 1:50:00 PM | Women's Golf
The 2019 ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M is co-hosted by the Gophers next week in Lake Elmo. Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam sat down with GopherSports.com to talk about the tournament, her career and more.
Why did you start the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M?
The tournament is a chance for me to give back and expand one of my ANNIKA Foundation's missions – the establishment of greater playing opportunities for college golfers.
This year marks our sixth edition and it's likely our strongest field to date, with the country's top four programs – No. 1 USC, No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Wake Forest and No. 4 Duke – scheduled to compete.
My involvement with NCAA women's golf also extends to the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel. In its sixth year, it's presented to the nation's most outstanding female collegiate player as voted on by players, coaches and members of the golf media. The 2018 and 2019 winner, Arkansas's Maria Fassi, will be honored at the Monday, September 16 Twins game against the Chicago White Sox. Maria's the 2019 NCAA individual champion who's now a rookie on the LPGA Tour.
What can you tell us about this year's host venue for the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota?
Located in a suburb of the Twin Cities, Royal Golf Club opened last year and is a revamp of what was once a 27-hole facility. Now 18 holes, it features a front nine (named The Queen's Nine) designed by me, and a back nine (named The King's Nine) designed by the late Arnold Palmer. It was my first U.S. design project and, sadly, Mr. Palmer's last. Rolling hills, mature trees and abundant wildlife provide a scenic backdrop for what we hope will be a wonderful long-term home for the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.
Do you miss playing the LPGA Tour?
The short answer is no. I achieved everything I wanted to achieve. I'm a competitive person and on occasion I will miss the rush that one gets when battling for a title on the back nine on Sunday. But I'm lucky to have been able to channel a lot of my competitive impulses into my various business interests.
What have you been up to since stepping away from the LPGA in 2008? What is your top priority these days?
Well, my main priority has been my family – raising my daughter, Ava, and son, Will, with my husband, Mike McGee. We really enjoy our time together, whether we're in Orlando, or on the slopes in Lake Tahoe, or visiting family and friends in Sweden. Our kids are very fortunate to have the opportunity to see many different parts of the world and get a first-hand look at how people from different cultures live and work. My other priorities are my various business interests, like my ANNIKA clothing line with Cutter & Buck, ANNIKA Course Design, and the ANNIKA Foundation.
You inspired so many female golfers to take up the game. Do they come to you now for advice or inspiration?
Some do, yes. It's always rewarding to be able to feel like you're lending a helping hand, whether it's to someone who just turned pro, a young lady playing collegiate golf, or a junior golfer doing all she can to learn the game. My ANNIKA Foundation affords me many opportunities to interact with younger players at our six junior tournaments worldwide, plus the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. I love the time I get to spend with the competitors, sharing my experiences both on and off the course. I'm inspired by our Foundation's "More Than Golf" mission.
How hard is it to juggle family, your Foundation and your business interests?
It's definitely not easy and takes a lot of planning. But I've never been one to sit still for very long and have always enjoyed the challenge of managing multiple priorities. First, I'm lucky to have Mike's help both at home and at work; in his role as my agent, we really enjoy working together. Furthermore, our team and I don't take any of my responsibilities lightly – either in business or at home – and are very confident that my focus won't be diluted. Throughout my career, I've always insisted on giving as much as I can to any project or partnership I'm associated with.
You were a member of the Arizona women's golf team for two seasons in the early 1990s, winning an NCAA Individual title and being named player of the year. What did you enjoy the most about your time as a collegiate golfer?
Playing at Arizona taught me valuable lessons about competitive golf that I used throughout my professional career. But even more so, it marked a crucial moment in my life, as it was my first time living away from home, in a different country, and I had to deal with the challenge of balancing all that comes with being a Division I athlete. I stepped off the plane in Tucson and didn't fully appreciate how transformational my time in college would be. But as I now look back on it, it really set in motion all the success that followed.
Why did you start the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M?
The tournament is a chance for me to give back and expand one of my ANNIKA Foundation's missions – the establishment of greater playing opportunities for college golfers.
This year marks our sixth edition and it's likely our strongest field to date, with the country's top four programs – No. 1 USC, No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Wake Forest and No. 4 Duke – scheduled to compete.
My involvement with NCAA women's golf also extends to the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel. In its sixth year, it's presented to the nation's most outstanding female collegiate player as voted on by players, coaches and members of the golf media. The 2018 and 2019 winner, Arkansas's Maria Fassi, will be honored at the Monday, September 16 Twins game against the Chicago White Sox. Maria's the 2019 NCAA individual champion who's now a rookie on the LPGA Tour.
What can you tell us about this year's host venue for the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota?
Located in a suburb of the Twin Cities, Royal Golf Club opened last year and is a revamp of what was once a 27-hole facility. Now 18 holes, it features a front nine (named The Queen's Nine) designed by me, and a back nine (named The King's Nine) designed by the late Arnold Palmer. It was my first U.S. design project and, sadly, Mr. Palmer's last. Rolling hills, mature trees and abundant wildlife provide a scenic backdrop for what we hope will be a wonderful long-term home for the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.
Do you miss playing the LPGA Tour?
The short answer is no. I achieved everything I wanted to achieve. I'm a competitive person and on occasion I will miss the rush that one gets when battling for a title on the back nine on Sunday. But I'm lucky to have been able to channel a lot of my competitive impulses into my various business interests.
What have you been up to since stepping away from the LPGA in 2008? What is your top priority these days?
Well, my main priority has been my family – raising my daughter, Ava, and son, Will, with my husband, Mike McGee. We really enjoy our time together, whether we're in Orlando, or on the slopes in Lake Tahoe, or visiting family and friends in Sweden. Our kids are very fortunate to have the opportunity to see many different parts of the world and get a first-hand look at how people from different cultures live and work. My other priorities are my various business interests, like my ANNIKA clothing line with Cutter & Buck, ANNIKA Course Design, and the ANNIKA Foundation.
You inspired so many female golfers to take up the game. Do they come to you now for advice or inspiration?
Some do, yes. It's always rewarding to be able to feel like you're lending a helping hand, whether it's to someone who just turned pro, a young lady playing collegiate golf, or a junior golfer doing all she can to learn the game. My ANNIKA Foundation affords me many opportunities to interact with younger players at our six junior tournaments worldwide, plus the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. I love the time I get to spend with the competitors, sharing my experiences both on and off the course. I'm inspired by our Foundation's "More Than Golf" mission.
How hard is it to juggle family, your Foundation and your business interests?
It's definitely not easy and takes a lot of planning. But I've never been one to sit still for very long and have always enjoyed the challenge of managing multiple priorities. First, I'm lucky to have Mike's help both at home and at work; in his role as my agent, we really enjoy working together. Furthermore, our team and I don't take any of my responsibilities lightly – either in business or at home – and are very confident that my focus won't be diluted. Throughout my career, I've always insisted on giving as much as I can to any project or partnership I'm associated with.
You were a member of the Arizona women's golf team for two seasons in the early 1990s, winning an NCAA Individual title and being named player of the year. What did you enjoy the most about your time as a collegiate golfer?
Playing at Arizona taught me valuable lessons about competitive golf that I used throughout my professional career. But even more so, it marked a crucial moment in my life, as it was my first time living away from home, in a different country, and I had to deal with the challenge of balancing all that comes with being a Division I athlete. I stepped off the plane in Tucson and didn't fully appreciate how transformational my time in college would be. But as I now look back on it, it really set in motion all the success that followed.
Reese McCauley Hole in One
Tuesday, September 16
Alum Emma Carpenter Makes BTN Debut
Monday, September 08
Isabella & Reese McCauley - Gopher Women's Golf - Minnesota Made
Friday, May 09
Teeing Off - ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Monday, September 09