Sorenstam Giving Back
To Junior Golf In Big Way
Annika Sorenstam gives a clinic as
part of the inaugural Annika Invitational
festivities in 2009.
Simin Feng, 13 years old at the time,
walked off the final green expecting to
be in a playoff after the last round of the
2009 Annika Invitational. As Feng walked
to the scoring tent, Sorenstam, the tournament host, surprised Feng — both by
her presence and by her news.
“Congratulations,” Sorenstam said,
“you just won.”
As a matter of fact, Sorenstam spent
the afternoon shaking each player’s
hand and congratulating each as they
left the 18th green during the final round
of her inaugural event.
Sorenstam’s commitment to junior
golf extends well beyond the American
Junior Golf Association’s Annika Invitational. She has been an ambassador
of the game throughout her career, but
her efforts reached a new level in 2007
when she opened the Annika Academy
at Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla.
Since ending her 15-year professional golf career and retiring in 2008,
Sorenstam has gotten married, started
a family and focused on her business
endeavors. Amidst all that, she has
committed herself to developing young
golfers through educational programs
dedicated to not only golf, but fitness
and nutrition as well.
“Most people think of a golf school
and they just think of golf,” Sorenstam
said. “At Annika Academy, we share my
passion for golf and fitness, along with
my personal team of coaches that I have
used for most of my career.”
This team includes director of fitness
Kai Fusser and lead instructor Henri
Reis, Sorenstam’s golf coach since 1987.
